Childhood Asthma News and Research

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Study finds no association between BCG vaccine and childhood asthma

Childhood asthma is a serious public health challenge in Québec and throughout the world. Although the immune mechanisms implicated in the development of childhood asthma are not fully understood, some studies seem to suggest that the BCG vaccine, used in tuberculosis prevention, may have a protective effect on childhood asthma.

3 Oct 2017

Children with respiratory tract infections have increased risk for asthma, worse lung function in later life

Respiratory tract infections in young children are linked to an increased risk of asthma and worse lung function in later life, according to new research to be presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress today (Sunday).

11 Sep 2017

Racial disparities in childhood asthma linked to residential segregation

Researchers have had trouble explaining why black children are much more likely than other children to suffer from asthma.

7 Aug 2017

Maternal sugar intake during pregnancy may increase allergy risk in offspring

Findings from the 'Children of the 90s' released this week suggest that a high maternal sugar intake during pregnancy may increase the risk of the child developing allergies. There was a strong positive association between intake of free sugars during pregnancy and the development of allergy and allergic asthma in offspring.

7 Jul 2017

Phthalate exposure linked to depressed thyroid function in young girls

Early childhood exposures to specific phthalates were associated with depressed thyroid function in girls at age 3, according to scientists at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health. Phthalates, a class of chemicals thought to disrupt the endocrine system, are widely used in consumer products from plastic toys to household building materials to shampoos.

30 May 2017

Vitamin D supplements in pregnancy could help protect children against asthma

A new study published today in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology has found that taking Vitamin D supplements in pregnancy can positively modify the immune system of the newborn baby, which could help to protect against asthma and respiratory infections, a known risk factor for developing asthma in childhood.

26 May 2017

Exposure to high prenatal stress and air pollution linked to increased risk for childhood asthma

A new study has found that children, especially boys, whose mothers were exposed to higher levels of outdoor particulate air pollution at the same time that they were very stressed were most likely to develop asthma by age six.

22 May 2017

Lung experts develop new smartphone app for self-management of asthma

A new and unique smartphone app to help people with asthma manage their condition has been developed by lung experts at the Nottingham Respiratory Research Unit and the pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline.

12 Apr 2017

Study finds suboptimal asthma control among school students in the UK

Poor asthma control and knowledge are common in children with doctor-diagnosed asthma, according to research by Queen Mary University of London.

29 Mar 2017

Few steps to protect ourselves and our families from air pollution

The World Health Organization reported this month that pollution and environmental risks are responsible for 1.7 million child deaths per year.

23 Mar 2017

New report estimates economic burden of lung disease in the UK

Lung disease costs the UK a staggering £11 billion each year, according to a new economic report by the British Lung Foundation.

16 Mar 2017

Yeast found in gut of new babies may be strong predictor of childhood asthma

University of British Columbia microbiologists have found a yeast in the gut of new babies in Ecuador that appears to be a strong predictor that they will develop asthma in childhood. The new research furthers our understanding of the role microscopic organisms play in our overall health.

17 Feb 2017

Childhood asthma may increase obesity risk, study finds

Children with asthma may be more likely to become obese later in childhood or in adolescence, according to new research published online ahead of print in the American Thoracic Society's American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

20 Jan 2017

Taking omega-3 supplements during pregnancy can reduce risk of childhood asthma by one third

Taking certain omega-3 fatty acid supplements during pregnancy can reduce the risk of childhood asthma by almost one third, according to a new study from the Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood (COPSAC) and the University of Waterloo.

30 Dec 2016

Exposure to London's 1952 smog linked to increased incidence of childhood, adult asthma

London's Great Smog of 1952 resulted in thousands of premature deaths and even more people becoming ill.

8 Jul 2016

Study to examine new ways to transfer autistic child's improving communication skills into education setting

A University of Manchester-led study is testing whether an intervention with parents and teachers can help children with autism transfer newly acquired social communication skills from home into school.

23 Jun 2016

UA researchers one step closer to preventing asthma in children

Efforts to improve the health of children at increased risk for asthma will receive a major boost with the launch of a new University of Arizona Health Sciences-led, federally funded national clinical study. For Fernando D. Martinez, MD, and his colleagues at the UA Asthma and Airway Disease Research Center, this study follows 30 years of research to prevent and cure this chronic disease.

6 May 2016

Study finds link between low pollution levels and stronger lungs in California kids

A USC study that tracked Southern California children over a 20-year period has found they now have significantly fewer respiratory symptoms as a result of improved air quality.

13 Apr 2016

Specific environmental influences can neutralize effect of genetic variant that increases childhood asthma risk

The effect of a widespread genetic variant that increases the risk for childhood asthma can be neutralized. A new study shows that young infants are particularly responsive to the positive influence of exposure to farm dust.

27 Nov 2015

Scientific Director of Life Study to present lecture at University of Leicester

Professor Carol Dezateux, Scientific Director of Life Study, will present 'Life Study: Identifying Pathways to Health in Early Life' on Thursday, September 10, as the first of a series of lectures to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the University of Leicester Medical School.

10 Sep 2015