Asthma is a chronic (long-term) lung disease that inflames and narrows the airways. Asthma causes recurring periods of wheezing A (a whistling sound when you breathe), chest tightness, shortness of breath, and coughing. The coughing often occurs at night or early in the morning. Asthma affects people of all ages, but it most often starts during childhood. Asthma in most babies is a reaction to a trigger, often an allergen such as pet saliva, skin or urine, dust mites, or pollen. Airborne irritants such as cigarette smoke and mould spores can also be
The gut bacteria of children who are at high risk for asthma display low levels of four specific bacterial species when they are three months old, scientists have discovered. The finding could lead to a test that can more accurately predict which children might develop asthma, but the upshot of the study is even bigger. The scientists think their study could lead to a microbe-based treatment that might prevent the development of asthma in infants.