A survey of asthma and childhood vaccination

There is an unexplained increase in the prevalence of asthma and hay fever. Current theories to explain the rising prevalence of asthma include dietary changes, sedentary lifestyles, worsening indoor air quality, increasing exposure to indoor air, and changes in immune system development caused by immunizations, good hygiene, or use of antibiotics. This study surveyed a unique population to assess the relationship between vaccinations and prevalent atopic disease. There was a statistically significant (p < 0.05), dose dependent relationship between vaccinations and asthma only in children with no family history of atopic disease, with no early exposure to antibiotics, and with well-educated mothers. An association between vaccinations and hay fever was also observed, only among children with no family history of allergies. The observed associations may partly be due to systematic errors. This paper will review the current state of asthma research, describe the current study, present comprehensive results from a data analysis, and discuss the meaning of these results in the context of current knowledge.; The known benefits of vaccination out weigh the unproven risk of developing asthma or hay fever. This study does not prove that vaccines cause asthma or hay fever. Further research is needed to verify these results and investigate potential mechanisms driving the observed association between vaccinations and asthma.