Early childhood bronchiolitis increases asthma risk in adulthood
Persons who have had bronchiolitis in early childhood have an increased risk of asthma at the age of 28–31 and a weaker health-related quality of life than their peers. In lung function tests, they also demonstrate changes indicative of irreversible airway obstruction, according to a new study from the University of Eastern Finland. Bronchiolitis and pneumonia are common lower respiratory tract infections in early childhood. During their first year, around 30 per cent of children have bronchiolitis, leading to hospitalization in 1 to 3 per cent. In early childhood, the respiratory