Does COVID-19 increase the risk of asthma in children?

## No Link Between COVID-19 and Increased Asthma Risk in Children

Philadelphia, PA – A new study by researchers at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) has found that COVID-19 infection does not increase the risk of asthma development in children.

COVID-19 and Respiratory Infections

Respiratory viral infections, such as COVID-19, are known to be risk factors for asthma. However, the effects of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, on asthma development specifically in children were not well understood.

Study Design and Findings

To investigate this, the CHOP team conducted a retrospective cohort study of over 27,000 pediatric patients who underwent PCR testing for SARS-CoV-2 between March 2020 and February 2021. They tracked these patients for an 18-month period to observe asthma diagnoses.

The study found that testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 had no significant effect on the likelihood of a new asthma diagnosis. This remained true even when analyzing specific subgroups, such as children with a history of allergies or premature birth.

Risk Factors for Asthma

The study did identify some risk factors for developing childhood asthma, including:

– Black race
– Food allergies
– Allergic rhinitis (hay fever)
– Preterm birth (for children under 5 years old)

Implications and Future Research

“This study provides clinically useful information to pediatricians and providers on the absence of risk of developing asthma as a result of COVID-19,” said Dr. David A. Hill, senior author of the study. “We are hopeful that this study will put to rest an outstanding question on the minds of many families.”

While the study focused on children, more research is needed to assess potential risks in adults and with longer-term follow-up, especially as new variants emerge. However, the findings suggest that SARS-CoV-2 infection does not increase the risk of asthma development in children.