CHEST Guidelines-Pneumonia-in-Infancy-and-Risk-for-Asthma

Pneumonia-in-Infancy-and-Risk-for-Asthma_chest

Pdf Summary

Pneumonia in infancy has been linked to an increased risk of developing asthma later in childhood, as discussed in a study by Rhedin et al. Pneumonia, particularly when caused by viruses, is a leading cause of serious respiratory infections in children globally and remains a significant contributor to morbidity and mortality. Asthma, a prevalent condition in children in the United States, commonly follows pneumonia diagnosed in infancy. The introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV) has helped reduce bacterial pneumonia, causing a shift towards a higher incidence of viral pneumonia, particularly from viruses like respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and rhinovirus, which are major predictors for the development of asthma.<br /><br />The study examined a large population of 900,000 children to assess asthma risk post-pneumonia diagnosis in infancy, considering factors like familial confounding. They found a slightly elevated asthma risk during the PCV period in comparison to the pre-PCV period, suggesting a stronger association between viral pneumonia and asthma. These findings highlight the importance of prevention strategies that target viral causes, such as the use of monoclonal antibodies and novel vaccines against RSV and rhinovirus.<br /><br />Notably, the study also references new therapeutic approaches including omalizumab, a biologic targeting IgE-mediated responses, suggesting its potential in preventing asthma development among high-risk children by reducing viral infections that may exacerbate asthma. Ongoing research and trials, such as the Preventing Asthma in High Risk Kids (PARK) trial, continue to explore these novel methods for primary prevention of asthma. This research underscores the need for further emphasis on targeted interventions to mitigate the impacts of viral infections and reduce the burden of asthma in childhood.

Keywords

pneumonia

asthma

infancy

viral infections

pneumococcal conjugate vaccines

respiratory syncytial virus

rhinovirus

prevention strategies

omalizumab

Preventing Asthma in High Risk Kids trial