Evidence of a causal role of winter virus infection during infancy in early childhood asthma.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

Bronchiolitis during infancy is associated with an increased risk of childhood asthma. Whether winter viral infections cause asthma or are a manifestation of a predisposition to asthma development is unknown.

Objectives

To study the relationship of winter virus infection during infancy and the development of childhood asthma.

Methods

We studied over 95,000 infants born between 1995 and 2000 and followed through 2005 who were enrolled in the Tennessee Medicaid program from birth through early childhood to determine whether infant birth in relationship to the winter virus peak alters the risk of developing early childhood asthma.

Measurements and main results

Among 95,310 children studied during five winter virus seasons from birth through early childho

SUBMITTER: Wu P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2588491 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature