Asthma Linked to Infection during Pregnancy

Study may help doctors identify children at risk for asthma This study is potentially helpful in identifying early on children who could be at an increased risk for developing asthma. However, the study looked only at a unique population of... More

Study may help doctors identify children at risk for asthma This study is potentially helpful in identifying early on children who could be at an increased risk for developing asthma. However, the study looked only at a unique population of premature babies born to women who had symptoms that had been clinically diagnosed as chorioamnionitis during pregnancy. It did not consider subclinical patients – those mothers who had no symptoms but who have had the infection, which is estimated to affect 40 to 60 percent of preterm infants. “Once the unborn baby’s lungs have been exposed to this inflammation, the infant may be predisposed to respiratory diseases such as childhood asthma. ” Women’s Health Hubert O. Ballard, MD Neonatologist What the news means for you (continued on back) (continued on back) Babies born prematurely and exposed before birth to a bacterial infection of the placenta could have an increased risk for developing asthma by age 8 Less