Autumnal babies exposed to asthma

Babies born in autumn may be at a higher risk of developing childhood asthma, scientists have claimed.

According to the American Thoracic Society, infants born four months prior to the peak cold and flu season may be at a higher risk of developing the condition than children born at any other time of year.

The new study, to be published in the first December edition of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, examined 95,000 children in Tennessee and found that autumn babies had the greatest likelihood of developing clinically significant bronchiolitis, thereby increasing the risk that they would develop childhood asthma.

Dr Tina V Hartert, associate professor of medicine and director of the centre for Asthma Research at Vanderbilt University and principal investigator of the study, explained: "Infant age at the winter virus peak following birth independently predicts asthma development, with the highest risk being for infants born approximately four months prior to the peak."

Elsewhere, a study cited by Asthma UK earlier this week has shown that children's asthma is aggravated during the autumn season.

The number of hospital visits witnessed during this period was found to be more than two times higher than was seen in summer.

Such news may be of interest to those who are researching family health insurance products. 

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