The harmful effects of pollen in babies could be important for the development of asthma in childhood
Keystone / Valda Kalnina
Pollen from grasses and trees can cause symptoms such as coughing or wheezing in babies as early as the first year of life, Basel researchers have shown for the first time. This connection was previously only known in older children and adults.
This finding is important because infancy is a particularly sensitive time for lung development, the University Children’s Hospital Basel said in a statementExternal link on Monday. The harmful effects of pollen in babies could be important for the development of asthma in childhood.
The studyExternal link, published in the scientific journal Allergy, has been awarded the Pfizer Research Prize, the hospital wrote.
The Basel research team, led by Amanda Gisler, followed more than 400 babies throughout their first year of life. During the analysis period (January to September), they recorded the children’s symptoms weekly in telephone interviews.
Pollen exposure for the corresponding week was estimated for each infant using data from the nearest monitoring station. Statistical models were used to investigate whether there was a significant association between individual pollen exposure and respiratory symptoms. Children who were exposed to higher levels of grass and tree pollen were found to have more respiratory symptoms.
More
More
Why are allergies on the rise in Switzerland?
This content was published on
Soon, even people living high up in the Swiss Alps will no longer be safe from allergies like hay fever.
The research team also found that the effect of the pollen did not depend on the mother’s predisposition to allergic reactions or the sex of the infant. They also investigated whether the effect of pollen increases with increased air pollution. However, the study could not find a clear effect in this regard.
For her research work in paediatrics, Gisler received the Pfizer Research PrizeExternal link on January 26. The Pfizer Research Prize is one of the most important research prizes for medicine in Switzerland. It is awarded annually to outstanding young scientists who have made distinguished and pioneering contributions to laboratory or clinical research at Swiss research institutes or hospitals.
More
More
Switzerland to create world’s first real-time pollen monitoring system
This content was published on
An automated national pollen monitoring system is due to be launched in 2023 – a world first.
Drugs often approved for wider use than tested, says Swiss study
This content was published on
A study by the University of Zurich, ETH Zurich and Yale and Harvard universities found that many medicines are approved for groups not tested in trials.
This content was published on
Over the four days, around 98,000 people – including volunteers – made their way up Bern’s local mountain for the 42nd edition of the festival.
Foreign residents in Moutier gain voting rights before town joins canton Jura
This content was published on
Foreign nationals living in Moutier will be able to vote in local and cantonal elections this year, even before the town joins the canton of Jura in 2026.
This content was published on
By 8am on Saturday, an 11-kilometre queue had formed at the Gotthard tunnel’s northern entrance, with drivers facing nearly two hours of delays.
Plant-based meat market in Switzerland set to grow to CHF361 million by 2030
This content was published on
Switzerland’s market for plant-based meat alternatives has a potential value of around CHF 242 million this year, though it remains a niche market.
This content was published on
The army is looking for a modern solution for its decommissioned fortress mortar bunkers, with plans to turn them into hardened defence hubs.
This content was published on
Spain ended Switzerland’s run in the Women’s Euros on Friday, but fans in Bern made history with the largest supporters’ march in Women’s Euros history.
This content was published on
Solar energy pioneer Raphaël Domjan and his team continued preparations for the altitude record attempt at 10,000 metres with the SolarStratos solar aircraft.
This content was published on
Cattle in the canton of Geneva and in the neighbouring region of Terre Sainte in the canton of Vaud are being vaccinated against the contagious viral skin nodule disease. The first cases of the animal disease were reported at the end of June in France, just outside Geneva.
Fewer attacks on Swiss ATMs but their future remains uncertain
This content was published on
Bank ATMs in Switzerland are less prone to attacks by criminals, but their future remains uncertain given the less active use of cash by the population.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Campaign targets allergies in babies
This content was published on
They have now launched a national awareness campaign to tackle the problem, giving advice on the causes and how to prevent such allergies from taking hold. The Swiss Centre for Allergies, Skin and Asthma, known as “aha!” said that allergies were the most common chronic affliction among babies. Experts said that allergies among the young…
Climate change spells tough times for allergy sufferers
This content was published on
The pollen season is starting earlier and is growing tenser every year as a result of rising temperatures, according to a major study.
This content was published on
People who are affected by Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) can hope for a better life now that a unique project in Europe is proposing to create special homes for them. “I have spent thousands of nights in a camper. At the moment I’m sleeping in the woods, where the temperatures are lower”. Christian Schifferle has…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.