No Link Found Between COVID-19 Virus and Asthma Development in Children
**Philadelphia, Pennsylvania** – A new study published in the journal Pediatrics has found that a SARS-CoV-2 infection likely does not increase the risk of asthma development in children. The findings provide reassurance to families concerned about the long-term respiratory effects of COVID-19 on their children.
The Risk of Asthma After COVID-19
Respiratory viral infections early in life are known risk factors for asthma. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes COVID-19, can cause inflammation in the airways and other respiratory symptoms. This led many families to worry that COVID-19 might trigger asthma in their children.
The CHOP Study
To investigate this concern, a team of researchers from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) conducted a large retrospective cohort study involving more than 27,000 pediatric patients who received SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing between March 1, 2020, and February 28, 2021. The patients were followed over an 18-month period to observe the development of asthma.
The Findings
The study found that testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 had no significant effect on the likelihood of a new asthma diagnosis. However, children with known risk factors for developing pediatric asthma, such as race, food allergies, and allergic rhinitis, were more likely to have a new asthma diagnosis.
“This well-powered study reaffirms risk factors we know contribute to asthma development and provides clinically useful information to pediatricians and providers on the absence of risk of developing asthma as a result of COVID-19,” said senior study author David A. Hill, MD, PhD, an attending physician with the Division of Allergy and Immunology at CHOP.
Implications for Families and Providers
The findings of this study provide reassurance to families that a SARS-CoV-2 infection does not appear to increase the risk of asthma development in children. This information can be used to guide counseling and decision-making for families and healthcare providers.
“We are hopeful that this study will put to rest an outstanding question on the minds of many families,” said Dr. Hill. “It provides peace of mind that COVID-19 is not a risk factor for asthma development in children.”
also read:Does COVID-19 increase the risk of asthma in children?
Mehek 
Priyanka