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Burden and Subtypes of Early Life Infections Increase the Risk of Asthma

Julie Nyholm Kyvsgaard1, Laura Marie Hesselberg2, Rikke Bjersand Sunde1

  • 1Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood, Department of Pediatrics, Herlev and Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Pediatrics, Slagelse Hospital, Slagelse, Denmark.

The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. in Practice
|April 12, 2024
PubMed

Insights

High burden of early childhood infections like colds and pneumonia increases asthma risk. Reducing these infections may help prevent childhood asthma, especially in allergic children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric respiratory health
  • Epidemiology of infectious diseases
  • Asthma pathogenesis

Background:

  • Early life infections are linked to asthma development.
  • Limited data exists on infection burden and asthma subtypes.
  • Understanding this link is crucial for primary prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between early life infection burden and asthma risk.
  • To analyze specific infection subtypes (colds, pneumonia, etc.) and their relation to asthma.
  • To assess the impact of infections on lung function at age 10.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective cohort study of 662 children (Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood 2010).
  • Infections (colds, tonsillitis, otitis media, pneumonia, gastroenteritis, fever) tracked from age 0-3 years.
  • Asthma diagnosed longitudinally (age 3-10 years); lung function measured at age 10.

Main Results:

  • High infection burden (median 16 infections) associated with increased asthma risk (aOR=3.61).
  • Colds, pneumonia, gastroenteritis, and fever drove the increased asthma risk.
  • Pneumonia burden linked to lower lung function; colds linked to higher asthma risk in allergic children.

Conclusions:

  • Significant association found between high burden of specific early infections and childhood asthma.
  • Children with respiratory allergies are particularly vulnerable.
  • Reducing early life infections presents a potential strategy for childhood asthma primary prevention.
Abstract

Keywords:
AsthmaChildInfectionsLung functionsRespiratory allergy

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