Birth season linked to asthma risk

Study shows that newborns delivered in autumn or winter are three times more likley to have asthma.

Found in:

Latest pregnancy & baby medical news > Birth season linked to asthma risk

Discuss birth season linked to asthma risk on our forums, right now! Or, post a comment below.

Babies born in autumn or winter have a higher risk of developing early symptoms of asthma, new research has found. A study conducted at the University of California, Berkeley, revealed that infants delivered in high mold season are three times more likely to develop wheezing by the age of two compared to babies born at other times in the year. Commenting on the findings, lead researcher Kim Harley explained: "In our study, we took a different tack to understand the link between month of birth and asthma by considering ambient concentrations of fungal spores and pollen, which follow distinct seasonal patterns."

She added that this is the first study to focus on early exposure to allergens in the air, which are already known to trigger symptoms in asthma sufferers.

According to the report, some 40 per cent of babies who wheeze in early life will develop childhood asthma.

Studies have shown that a family history of asthma can influence a child's odds of developing the condition, in addition to environmental factors.