EARLY YEARS: Children who develop asthma are likely to have become allergy-prone in the first three years of life, a study has shown.
Between birth and school age, some children who suffer persistent wheezing develop asthma and some do not. Researchers found that what made the difference was a child's experiences in the first three years after birth. Asthma was more likely to develop if a child had become sensitive to allergy triggers, such as cat hair, during this time. At-risk children were also likely to be constantly wheezing in their first three years.
Writing in The Lancet, the investigators suggest that future research should look at whether pre-school preventative treatment in the form of inhaled corticosteroids can reduce the chances of children developing asthma. Dr Sabina Illi, from University Children's Hospital in Munchen, Germany, says: "Given the good prognosis for non-atopic [ non-allergy susceptible] wheezing children, the need for these individuals to continue to take inhaled corticosteroids on a regular basis should be re-assessed." A total of 90 per cent of children who experienced repeated wheezing but were not susceptible to allergies lost their symptoms at school age.
RESEARCH MEETING: The Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health will hold a research meeting on September 13th from 1pm-5pm in the Montgomery Lecture Theatre, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, St James's Hospital, Dublin. There will presentations on a wide range of topics relevant to child and adolescent mental health.
DAY SEMINARS: British author and health researcher Phillip Day will give a series of seminars around Ireland next week (September 4th-8th). Day has written a number of books challenging the establishment's approach and provision of information on diseases such as cancer and Aids. Entitled Simple Changes, your 100 ways to a happier healthier life, the meetings start at 7.30pm and the first venue is the Tara Towers Hotel, in Blackrock, Dublin. It then moves to Cork, Killarney, Galway and Athlone. Tickets are €10 at the door. For further information, visit www.credence.org