Asthma in infants associated factors: microbiota involvement

Abstract

Introduction: Asthma in infants has drastically increased over the past five decades. Aim: The purposes of our study were to identify the factors associated with asthma occurrence in infants and especially the involvement of dysbiosis. Methods: A case control study carried out in the pediatric Department A of the Children's Hospital of Tunis over two years comparing the factors associated with the occurrence of asthma in infants between two groups of asthmatic and non-asthmatic infants. Results: Ninety three cases of asthma in infants and 93 matched controls have been compared. The sex ratio was 2.2 and atopy was reported in 51.6% of cases in asthmatic group. The endogenous factors included family atopy (OR=2.24) and male gender (OR=2.8). Involved exogenous factors were maternal exposure to tobacco (OR=2.62), neonatal respiratory distress (OR=2.52), poor conditions (OR=2.42), surrounding humidity (OR=1.94) and promiscuity (OR=3.51). The microbiota dysregulation included maternal exposure to antibiotics (OR=3.76), neonatal exposure to antibiotics (OR=7.04), early introduction of cow's milk (OR=1.9) and early bronchiolitis (OR=6.12). The protecting factors were the maternal vitamin D supplementation (OR=0.3) and the extended duration of breastfeeding (OR=0.53). Conclusion: Apart from endogenous factors associated with the onset of asthma in infants, the dysbiosis and the exposure to environmental pollutants are undoubtedly involved in the occurrence of bronchial hyperreactivity.