Are Children With Autoimmune Issues More Likely To Have Asthma?
Children with autoimmune issues or who are immunosuppressed for other reasons are not more likely to have asthma compared to other people. This is because asthma is not an immune deficiency or autoimmune disease.
All factors that increase the risk of childhood asthma are not known. Common ones that seem to be involved include:
- Family history of allergies and asthma
- Some types of airway infections at a very young age (e.g., RSV infections)
- Exposure to environmental irritants (e.g., cigarette smoke and air pollution)
Also, there are common asthma triggers that stimulate the immune system response. These lead to asthma symptoms. The triggers include:
If a child has an underlying immune system disorder and asthma, they can be at increased risk for more frequent asthma flare-ups. This is due to an increased risk of infections (e.g., bronchitis, pneumonia).
John M. James, MD, is a board-certified allergist. He is also President of Food Allergy Consulting and Education Services, LLC. He has worked as a medical specialist in the field of allergy, asthma, and immunology for over 30 years. Dr. James received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Arkansas and his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Tennessee. He is board certified by the American Board of Allergy and Immunology.
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