Lung Risks for Low-Birth-Weight Babies

Full-term, low-birth-weight babies are at significantly greater risk for early respiratory symptoms, according to a Dutch study.

Through age 5, children born at full term with low birth weight show significantly greater risk for developing respiratory symptoms, including wheezing, coughing and pulmonary infections, according to a study featured in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, published by the American Thoracic Society.

Dr. Johan C. de Jongste of the Erasmus MC/Sophia Children’s Hospital in Rotterdam and eight associates studied 3,628 children.

The researchers concluded that the effect of birth weight on respiratory symptoms increased, from ages 1 to 5, in direct relation to birth weight. However, after age 5, the effect lessened and was not significant by age 7. The authors defined low birth weight as 5.5 pounds at birth.