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Infant vaccinations and childhood asthma among full-term infants

Julie E Maher1, John P Mullooly, Lois Drew

  • 1Center for Health Research, Kaiser Permanente Northwest, 3800 N. Interstate, Portland, OR 97227-1110, USA. john.mullooly@kpchr.org

Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety
|February 20, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Infant vaccinations are not linked to childhood asthma. However, frequent infant wheezing episodes are associated with an increased risk of developing childhood asthma.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Immunology
  • Respiratory Medicine

Background:

  • Childhood asthma is a significant public health concern.
  • Concerns exist regarding potential links between infant vaccinations and asthma development.
  • Infant wheezing is a known predictor of childhood asthma.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between infant vaccinations and the development of childhood asthma in full-term infants.
  • To explore the relationship between infant wheezing characteristics and childhood asthma.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective cohort study using health maintenance organization (HMO) data from 1991-1994.
  • Included full-term infants with at least 12 months of continuous enrollment.
  • Asthma cases identified in 1998; data abstracted on infant wheezing, vaccinations, and risk factors.

Main Results:

  • No significant association found between childhood asthma and Hepatitis B, pertussis, Haemophilus influenzae type b, oral polio, or measles, mumps, rubella vaccines.
  • No significant association observed between total vaccine doses and childhood asthma.
  • A significant association was found between the number of infant wheezing episodes and childhood asthma.

Conclusions:

  • Current infant vaccination schedules do not appear to increase the risk of childhood asthma.
  • The frequency of infant wheezing is a confirmed predictor of childhood asthma.
  • Further research can focus on understanding the mechanisms linking infant wheezing to asthma.
Abstract

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