Ear infections asthma link

Main Category: Respiratory / Asthma
Article Date: 18 May 2004 - 0:00 PDT

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Children who are prone to ear infections have an increased risk of developing asthma, according to a new study. However, Asthma UK experts have said that more research is needed before drawing any definite conclusions.

Scientists at the University of Illinois looked at the medical records of 7,538 children aged 2-11. They discovered that those with a history of ear infections were 57% more likely to be diagnosed with asthma than children who had never had an ear infection.

Overall they found that 72% of the children had experienced at least one infection and 9% had asthma. As the number of ear infections increased, so did the likelihood of them developing asthma.

Dr Kamal Eldeirawl, who led the study, stressed that although the findings showed a strong association between ear infections and asthma, results were not conclusive: 'Specific viruses or bacteria that cause recurrent ear infections may play a major role in the development of asthma.

'It is also possible that antibiotics that are commonly used to treat ear infections increase the risk of asthma, but more research is needed in this area.'

Professor Martyn Partridge, Asthma UK's Chief Medical Adviser, agreed: 'This is an interesting association but there is too little to suggest that one disease has caused the other.

'If the association is not by chance alone then there is a possibility that greater use of antibiotics is in some way associated with the subsequent asthma,' he said.

'The other alternative is that infection of one or other type is associated with the onset of asthma,' he added.

'As the authors of this latest study say, further research is clearly needed.'

For advice and information on asthma, call the Asthma UK Adviceline (08457 01 02 03) or email an asthma nurse specialist at:
http://www.asthma.org.uk/help/helpline01.php

© Asthma UK 2004