On roots of childhood asthma: The role of respiratory infections

Author: Remes Sami   Korppi Matti  

Publisher: Informa Healthcare

ISSN: 0785-3890

Source: Annals of Medicine, Vol.37, Iss.1, 2005-03, pp. : 26-32

Disclaimer: Any content in publications that violate the sovereignty, the constitution or regulations of the PRC is not accepted or approved by CNPIEC.

Previous Menu Next

Abstract

The prevalence of childhood asthma has increased throughout the last decades, but the reasons for the increase still remain unresolved. However, the debate has recently focused on the role of infections, and microbial exposure in general, in the development of childhood asthma. Many studies have suggested that there is an inverse relation between certain infections and the risk of asthma. This article outlines the contemporary role of childhood asthma in public health, reviews the importance of topical respiratory pathogens in the development of childhood asthma, and provides an example how selection bias may have caused controversy in previous studies assessing the role of infections in the development of childhood asthma.