SKIP TO CHAPTER SKIP TO CHAPTER
What Is Asthma? Is There an Asthma-Allergy Connection? How Are Food Allergies Related to Asthma? Understanding the Atopic March

Article Summary:

  • Asthma is a common, chronic condition.
  • Asthma more often occurs in people with allergies and vice versa.
  • Allergies may follow a predictable progression known as the atopic march

What Is Asthma?

Asthma is a common, chronic condition.1,2 Asthma occurs when the airways in the lungs become more narrow and inflamed, which can make it difficult to breathe.1 Infants with asthma may experience shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing and tightness in the chest.1 There’s a wide range of how asthma can present in your child, from mild irritation to life-threatening.1 Thankfully, asthma can be controlled with treatment.1 Many children with asthma enjoy active and healthy lives.1

It’s been proposed by experts that asthma can be diagnosed in infants as early as one year of age, and it’s estimated that as many as 20% of Canadian children and youth have asthma.2 In children 6 years and older, a breathing test known as a pulmonary function test can be used to diagnose asthma. Please contact your healthcare provider if you see signs of asthma in your child.1

Is There an Asthma-Allergy Connection?

Yes, there is a connection between asthma and allergies. While not everyone who has allergies has asthma or vice versa, asthma occurs more often in people with allergies.1 Allergic asthma occurs when the immune system overreacts to an allergen.3 Examples of allergens that may bring on an allergic asthma reaction include the following:

  • Pollen3
  • Dust mites3
  • Cockroaches3
  • Certain chemicals3
  • Mould3
  • Animal dander3

The cause of asthma is not fully known. It is believed that genetics, environment and the immune system play a role in asthma. Asthma often runs in families (genetics) and research suggests that exposure to some of these potential allergens—dust mites, animal dander and cockroaches—may influence the development of asthma.1 There is also a connection between food allergies and asthma.4

How Are Food Allergies Related to Asthma?

Children with a food allergy are more likely to develop asthma, and children with asthma are at higher risk for a persistent food allergies.1,4,5 Children with an IgE-mediated food allergy have been shown to develop asthma earlier and more often than those without this allergy.4 IgE stands for immunoglobulin E, an antibody produced by the immune system. Cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA) can be IgE mediated or non-IgE mediated.6 Asthma is a risk factor for developing IgE CMPA.6 The most common food allergies in children are the following:

  • Soy5
  • Eggs5
  • Milk5
  • Tree nuts5
  • Peanuts5
  • Wheat5
  • Fish5
  • Shellfish5

Asthma can also affect the reaction to a food allergy, making it more severe.5

Understanding the Atopic March

Allergies can follow a predictable progression, which is known as the atopic march.4 The progression often goes from atopic dermatitis (eczema) to food allergies to allergic rhinitis (nasal allergies) to asthma.4 Not everyone with eczema and allergies will develop asthma, and vice versa, but eczema, asthma and allergies often occur together. This is known as the atopic triad.1 Research shows that out of 100 children with atopic dermatitis, 40-50 develop asthma.1

Now that you know about the connections between allergies and asthma in newborns and infants as well as the possible progression of the atopic march, you’re better prepared if your little one experiences allergies and/or asthma. If you suspect that your newborn or infant may have CMPA, talk to your healthcare provider. Also, Nutramigen A+ with LGG Hypoallergenic Infant Formula can help you get relief from CMPA issues like colic, eczema and vomiting. For more about infant and newborn allergies, head over to the Allergy Centre.

  1. https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/health-topics/asthma-children
  2. https://cps.ca/documents/position/managing-an-acute-asthma-exacerbation
  3. https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/allergic-asthma
  4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6378301/
  5. https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthy-eating-physical-activity/conditions/food-allergies/food-allergies
  6. https://cps.ca/en/documents/position/cows-milk-protein-allergy
Share