The Standard Group Plc is a multi-media organization with investments in media platforms spanning newspaper print
operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The Standard Group is recognized as a
leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key influence in matters of national and international interest.
Babies that put on weight rapidly in their first three months are more likely to suffer from asthma later.
Researchers believe quickly gaining weight may lead to abnormal development of the child’s lungs or immune system.
The Bristol University team said in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: “We recommend GPs check a child’s personal growth curve if they come to them with asthma-related symptoms.”
More than a million UK children suffer from it.
Lead researcher Dr Agnes Sonnenschein-van der Voort said: “It is clear from our research that there is a connection between babies gaining weight quickly in the first three months of life and the risk of them developing asthma later on.
“We are not sure exactly what causes this but it may be that rapid weight gain leads to abnormal development of the lungs or the immune system."
The research, using data from the Children of the 90s study at the University of Bristol, analysed records for almost 10,000 people.
The study is published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
Dr Samantha Walker, director of research at Asthma UK, added: “More research is needed to get a clearer picture of the connection between a baby’s weight and their likelihood of developing asthma in later life.”
join