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An In vitro Model to Study Immune Responses of Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells to Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection
Published on: December 10, 2013
Virus vaccines and children with asthma
1Derbyshire Children's Hospital, Derbyshire, UK.
Current Opinion in Allergy and Clinical Immunology
|June 18, 2009
Summary
Virus vaccines are safe and do not increase asthma or atopy risk in children. While influenza vaccination shows limited benefit for younger children, its role in managing childhood asthma remains under discussion.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
- Vaccinology
- Epidemiology of Respiratory Diseases
Background:
- The rise in childhood asthma and atopy coincides with widespread virus vaccine introduction.
- Observational studies largely do not support a causal link between virus vaccines and increased asthma/atopy incidence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current understanding of virus vaccines' role in asthma and atopy pathogenesis.
- To summarize the impact of virus vaccines on preventing childhood asthma morbidity.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of observational studies and clinical data.
- Analysis of epidemiological trends in asthma, atopy, and vaccination rates.
Main Results:
- Virus vaccines are well-tolerated and do not elevate asthma or atopy incidence in vaccinated children.
- Influenza vaccination shows minimal association with asthma exacerbations in children, with limited benefit observed in younger age groups.
Conclusions:
- Current evidence supports the safety of virus vaccines regarding asthma and atopy.
- The therapeutic role of respiratory virus vaccination in children with asthma requires further investigation, particularly for influenza.
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