Causes of Childhood Asthma Researched

Two Australian studies have revealed that diet and family life may have an important role to play in the development of childhood asthma.

Medical journal Thorax reveals that children with diets high in polyunsaturated fats such as fish and Soya bean oil may double the risk of developing asthma.

Researchers at the Centre for Community Child Health at the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne studied 1000 children between the ages of 3 and 5.

One in five displayed symptoms of asthma and these children were more likely to display an allergic response to one or more other allergies. Children who had been breastfed, and the youngest children of four were believed to be least at risk.

Meanwhile, researchers at Adelaide University and the Women and Children's Hospital, Adelaide believe a child's family life may strongly affect the way they view their condition and how they are affected by it.

Children were seen to be less troubled by asthmatic symptoms where their families offered greater emotional support, more clearly defined roles for family members and rules for behaviour.

Friday, 10 August 2001