Swedish researchers report high pollen exposure during late pregnancy increased asthma risk in infants. This cohort study was conducted at Sweden’s Umeå University. And it is published in the December, 2012 edition of Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology.1
Other studies have previously shown an association between being born during a pollen season and an increased risk of allergies. The aim of this one was two-fold:
1. Assess the relationship between level of exposure to pollen during pregnancy and infancy.
2. Assess the risk of the child requiring hospitalization for asthma.
The study included all children conceived by women residing in Stockholm between 1988 and1995.
The team calculated pollen exposure for mommy’s first and last 12 weeks of pregnancy as well as baby’s first 12 weeks of infancy.
Out of 110,381 infants, 940 had been hospitalized for asthma within 12 months.
The researchers concluded, high levels of pollen exposure during late pregnancy were associated with an elevated risk of hospitalization for asthma within the first year of life.1
Analysis was adjusted for factors such as maternal smoking and pollen season.2
Asthma Aside
Asthma is one of three common causes of chronic cough in children. The other two are postnasal drip syndrome (PNDS) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).3
Basically, a person can be diagnosed with the disease at any age. However, many patients exhibit signs and symptoms during childhood. Your physician is very familiar with the classic signs of asthma. That wretched wheezing, shortness of breath and coughing are most common. The wheezing may be high-pitched whistling when breathing in or out. The cough is characteristically dry and gets worse at night.
Albeit, there are other general nonspecific symptoms which make asthma harder to recognize. Hence, they can make the diagnosis difficult. Unfortunately, these manifestations may be the only evidence of the disease. Diagnosis will include a thorough medical history, physical evaluation and additional medical testing.
Diagnosis of asthma is not one to be taken lightly. It should be done by a qualified physician or pulmonologist. Without proper treatment, long-term damage to both the lungs and heart can occur. But with treatment, such damage is significantly reduced.
It helps to know what specific things trigger your symptoms. Be mindful of them so you can advise your physician. Common triggers are allergies, smoke, changes in the weather, upper respiratory infections. And, believe it or not, exercise.
References
1. Lowe et al.: Pollen exposure in pregnancy and infancy and risk of asthma hospitalisation – a register based cohort study. Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology 2012 8:17.
3. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2214091/
2 Responses to Pollen Exposure During Pregnancy Affects Child’s Risk of Asthma