Introduction

Risk Factors for Childhood Asthma

A risk factor is anything that increases a person's chances for developing a disease or condition. Risk factors for childhood asthma include:

• Family history of asthma or allergy
• Antibodies of the IgE class to inhaled allergens
• Gender - in the younger age groups (before age 12), asthma tends to affect boys more than girls
• Significant exposure in infancy to allergens (e.g., dust mites; pollen; moulds; cats; cockroaches)
• Exposure to maternal smoking in utero
• Environmental tobacco smoke exposure
• Wheezing episodes before age 3
• Frequent or severe viral respiratory infections in early childhood
• Low socioeconomic class
• Being born premature
• Low birth weight
• Damp environments
• Day care centers
• Obesity