Colds During Pregnancy Linked To Childhood Asthma

Pregnant mothers often ask me, "Dr. Lubitz, is there a way I can insure the health of my baby during pregnancy?" I try to reassure them and say the following: "stay away from anyone who has a cold."I came across an interesting study conducted in Munich, Germany, reported by the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. The journal said that 526 German children from birth to their fifth year of age and their parents during pregnancy were examined and researchers measured potential allergens in each child's home.They found, according to the report that "rhinoviruses can influence asthma even before the child leaves the womb. So coughs and sniffles during pregnancy might translate into a future asthma diagnosis for your child, the study suggests." Also, of the families studied, 61 percent had a parent with asthma, hay fever of atopic dermatitus.Says Michael Foggs, MD, ACAAI (American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology) president "we know that allergy and asthma can develop in the womb since genetics play a factor in both diseases. But this (German) study sheds light about how a mother's environment during pregnancy can begin affecting the child before birth."According to the ACAAI website, asthma affects approximately 8 percent of women in their childbearing years. It was found that when women with asthma become pregnant, one-third of the patients improve, one-third worsen and one-third remain unchanged.A board-certified allergist can help expectant mothers suffering from asthma and allergies with treatment options and eliminate symptom triggers.Pregnant mothers often ask me, "Dr. Lubitz, is there a way I can insure the health of my baby during pregnancy?" I try to reassure them and say the following: "stay away from anyone who has a cold."I came across an interesting study conducted in Munich, Germany, reported by the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. The journal said that 526 German children from birth to their fifth year of age and their parents during pregnancy were examined and researchers measured potential allergens in each child's home.They found, according to the report that "rhinoviruses can influence asthma even before the child leaves the womb. So coughs and sniffles during pregnancy might translate into a future asthma diagnosis for your child, the study suggests." Also, of the families studied, 61 percent had a parent with asthma, hay fever of atopic dermatitus.Says Michael Foggs, MD, ACAAI (American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology) president "we know that allergy and asthma can develop in the womb since genetics play a factor in both diseases. But this (German) study sheds light about how a mother's environment during pregnancy can begin affecting the child before birth."According to the ACAAI website, asthma affects approximately 8 percent of women in their childbearing years. It was found that when women with asthma become pregnant, one-third of the patients improve, one-third worsen and one-third remain unchanged.A board-certified allergist can help expectant mothers suffering from asthma and allergies with treatment options and eliminate symptom triggers.To learn more:http://www.nycallergydoctor.com/asthma#allergy