Low Birth Weight Does Not Escalate Asthma Risk

Low weight at birth does not increase the risk of developing asthma, a new study says.

The findings come at a time when one in every 12 babies in U.S. is born with a low birth weight and it is one of the leading causes of neonatal mortality before 28 days of age in the country. A birth weight less than 2,500 grams (five pounds and eight ounces) is considered to be low.

Asthma is an inflammation of the air passage, leading to a narrowing of the airways that carry air from the mouth and nose to the lungs. It is one of the most common chronic conditions, affecting one in 20 American children.

For the study, researchers included more than 3,900 children born in Rochester, between 1976 and 1979. Of the total participants, more than 3,700 were born with a normal birth weight and 193 with low birth weight.

Researchers found only 13 children (6.7 percent) belonging to the low birth weight group developing asthma. On the other hand, more than 200 children from the normal birth weight group also developed asthma. This eliminated the common belief that low birth weight leads to asthma in children.

Efforts are on to find out the exact causes that lead to this occurrence and health experts urge parents to adopt proper treatment and avoid risks.

"Asthma is a lifelong disease that is increasing every year within the United States, both by the number of people affected and by cost," allergist Richard Weber from the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology ( ACAAI) president. "While researchers are still determining what exactly causes the disease, we do know how to effectively treat asthma in children and adults. It is important that those with symptoms see an allergist for proper diagnosis and treatment."

Findings of the study have been published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.