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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
