Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 23, 2026
Bronchial Thermoplasty: A Novel Therapeutic Approach to Severe Asthma
Published on: November 4, 2010
Pediatric asthma: a different disease
1Division of Cell Biology, Department of Pediatrics, National Jewish Health, 1400 Jackson Street, Denver, CO 80206, USA. gelfande@njc.org
Insights
Early life exposures and genetic factors significantly influence the natural history of asthma, particularly allergic asthma. Understanding these early-life triggers is crucial for managing pediatric and adult-onset asthma.
Area of Science:
- Allergy and Immunology
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Environmental Health
Background:
- Asthma affects over 30 million Americans, with significant differences between pediatric and adult-onset cases.
- The natural history of asthma, especially in specific patient groups, remains incompletely understood.
- Allergic asthma often originates in early childhood, linked to allergen sensitization and viral infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define the natural history of asthma, focusing on early life influences.
- To identify risk and protective factors impacting asthma development and progression.
- To elucidate the role of early immune/inflammatory responses in lung disease initiation and maintenance.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing data on early life exposures and asthma.
- Analysis of genetic susceptibility in relation to asthma development.
- Identification of risk and protective factors in childhood asthma.
Main Results:
- Early-life sensitization to aeroallergens and viral infections are key in pediatric asthma.
- Genetic predisposition plays a significant role in asthma's natural history.
- Specific early-life factors influence the development of atopy and asthma prevalence.
Conclusions:
- The early childhood period is critical for initiating and maintaining asthma.
- Understanding early immune responses in the lung is vital for asthma management.
- Identifying early risk and protective factors can inform strategies to reduce asthma prevalence.
Abstract:
Asthma currently affects the lives of more than 30 million Americans from infancy to the elderly. In many ways, pediatric asthma differs from adult asthma, including childhood-onset adult asthma. Despite many advances in our understanding of the disease, the natural history of asthma is not well defined, especially in different subsets of patients. For many with allergic asthma the disease has its origins in early childhood, associated with early sensitization to aeroallergens and exposure to repeated viral infections. These early life exposures, coupled with genetically determined susceptibility, have a major impact on the natural history of the disease. A number of risk factors during the critical early stages in the initiation of asthma have been associated with subsequent outcomes. In addition, protective factors linked to early life experiences have also been delineated which may impact the development of atopy and asthma and reduce the prevalence of these diseases. Cumulatively, the data highlight the critical nature of this early period in which immune/inflammatory responses in the lung are initiated and serve to maintain the disease in subsequent years.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Asthma: Pathogenesis and Management
Asthma is classified as allergic and non-allergic. Allergens such as dust mites, pollen, and pet dander trigger allergic asthma, while factors like cold air, intense emotions, or exercise can induce non-allergic asthma.
01:28Asthma I: Introduction
01:26Asthma-II: Pathophysiology and Classification
Additionally, environmental and genetic factors play crucial roles in determining an individual's susceptibility to asthma and the severity of their condition.
Critical processes in asthma pathophysiology include:
01:30Asthma-IV: Diagnostic and Management
Clinical Assessment for Asthma:
This is the first step in diagnosing and managing asthma. It includes:
01:29Asthma-I: Introduction
01:24Asthma-III: Symptoms and Complications
Classification of Asthma