The Role of Viruses in Asthma Development
Author Information
Author(s): Matthew M Huckabee, R Stokes Peebles Jr
Primary Institution: Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Hypothesis
Do viral infections in early life contribute to the development of asthma?
Conclusion
Early life viral infections, particularly from rhinovirus, are linked to a higher risk of developing asthma in children.
Supporting Evidence
- Viruses are found in 80-85% of children experiencing asthma exacerbations.
- Rhinovirus is the most common virus detected during asthma exacerbations.
- Children born around 4 months before the peak of the viral season have a significantly increased risk of asthma.
Takeaway
Getting sick with certain viruses when you're a baby can make it more likely that you'll have asthma when you grow up.
Methodology
The study followed over 95,000 children to analyze the relationship between the timing of viral infections and asthma development.
Potential Biases
Potential biases due to the observational nature of the study and lack of control groups for certain analyses.
Limitations
The study did not determine the specific viruses responsible for the peak of the viral season.
Participant Demographics
Children enrolled in the Tennessee Medicaid program, born between 1995 and 2000.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Confidence Interval
95% CI, 118–126 days
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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