Perinatal infection and asthma in the infant / 国际儿科学杂志

ABSTRACT

Epidemiological and clinical studies have provided compelling evidence that suggests a link between the relative lack of infectious diseases and the increase in allergic disorders. Asthma usually starts early in life. The early occurrence of asthma suggests that prinatal influences are of importance.Prenatal or postnatal exposure to endotoxins and other bacterial products may protect against the development of asthma in the infant. We will briefly outline the current state of the relationship of the perinatal infection and asthma in the infant, and focus our review mainly on possible rneehanism of perinatal infection providing protection against asthma in the infant, such as Th1/Th2 immune system, transcription factors, protection by maternal antibodies, endotoxin tolerance, pulmonary inflammation and genetic influences.