RSV prevention in newborns reduces the risk of asthma
In Belgium alone, 10,000 babies are hospitalised each year with RSV, the respiratory syncytial virus. Scientists at the VIB-UGent have found that early vaccination of newborns reduces the risk of asthma later in life.
Asthma is a respiratory disease that affects some 8% of children in Belgium. The children and their parents naturally bear the brunt, yet this incidence also puts considerable strain on our healthcare system. Hence the importance of prevention.
Fortunately, the Flemish Institute for Biotechnology (VIB) – UGent Centre for Inflammation Research recently reported hopeful developments. Vaccinating newborns against RSV reduces the risk of developing asthma later in life. This precaution is particularly advisable if the parents themselves also have allergies. Apparently, unvaccinated young children with hereditary risk factors who go through a severe RSV infection produce far more antibodies against allergens. These intensify the immune system’s response, encouraging the development of asthma.
Young parents now know what to do for their baby’s wellbeing: vaccinate!
Source: https://focusonbelgium.be