Vaccination & Asthma

According to Immunization Info, the cases of asthma in children have increased since 1980. In general, the direct cause of asthma is unknown. There tends to be a higher risk of asthma development in childhood if there is a family history of asthma. Asthma is your body's reaction to triggers such as air pollution, mold, pollen, dust, animal dander and weather conditions. In recent years, early childhood vaccines have come under scrutiny as possible asthma contributors.

Types

• During the first year of life, infants generally receive a series of vaccinations, which parents can refuse. These vaccinations include mumps, polio, diphtheria, hepatitis B, tetanus, influenza and measles. In 2009 and early 2010, many infants over 6 months of age received a separate swine flu vaccination before the strain was combined into the regular seasonal influenza shot.

Benefits

• Childhood vaccinations are designed to not only keep your child safe from disease, but to also help prevent health epidemics from occurring in the United States. Immunization Info points out that vaccinations are especially important for children who already have asthma because they provide immunity against illnesses such as the flu, which can cause infections that can aggravate asthma. Also, in some cases, a severe respiratory infection such as bronchiolitis during infancy can lead to asthma development.

Theories/Speculation

• According to Age of Autism, there is evidence that suggests asthma in children can be traced back to vaccinations, particularly the diphtheria vaccine. The statistics increase the earlier an infant receives the vaccine. Age of Autism explains that a University of Manitoba study in 1995 found that 14 percent of infants under the age of 2 months who received the diphtheria vaccine developed asthma. The statistics dropped to 6 percent when the vaccine was administered over 6 months of age.

Prevalence

• Immunization Info suggests that the higher incidents of childhood asthma development are attributed to population growth and increased environmental hazards such as pollution. According to the National Institutes of Health, a study conducted on vaccinated infants during the 1990s revealed that 11 percent developed asthma. However, this statistic is not high enough to attribute asthma to early childhood vaccinations.

Prevention/Solution

• Although your doctor may recommend vaccinating your child, the choice is ultimately yours. The National Institutes of Health, along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advocate the usage of vaccines in order to help contain and prevent potential deadly illnesses. Still, there is skepticism over whether vaccines actually attribute to asthma development rather than control it. Your best solution is to outweigh any risks against the benefits. For example, if your child has a strong family history of asthma, you may consider vaccinations as a defense mechanism against other harmful illnesses.