Prevention of asthma

A smoke-free environment should be recommended for all children, and all pregnant and breastfeeding women should be advised not to smoke.

[√]

Avoidance of environmental tobacco smoke may reduce the risk of childhood asthma.

III-2

Breastfeeding may lower asthma risk during early childhood, but does not provide long-term asthma protection.

III-2

If breastfeeding is not possible, infant feeding with hydrolysed milk formulae may slightly lower the risk of childhood allergy, wheezing and asthma, compared with use of other formulae.

I

Infant feeding with soy formulae does not prevent asthma

I

Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation in at-risk infants does not appear to reduce the risk of childhood asthma or wheezing.

II

Probiotic supplementation of mothers during late pregnancy and lactation, or of non-breastfed infants, does not appear to prevent asthma.

II

Avoidance of commonly allergenic foods during pregnancy or lactation has no effect on the development of childhood asthma

I

Avoidance of commonly allergenic foods in infant diets does not reduce the risk of childhood asthma.

II

Measures to reduce exposure to dust mite do not appear to decrease the rates of asthma or wheeze in young children.

II

On current evidence, advising families to avoid exposure to pets is not warranted.

[√]

Multifaceted environmental controls that include allergen avoidance, undertaken during infancy, may reduce asthma symptoms in young children but have no effect on lung function or bronchial hyperresponsiveness.

II

Long-term treatment with antihistamines does not reduce the risk of asthma developing in children with atopic dermatitis, including those who are sensitive to house dust mite and/or grass pollen.

II

Immunotherapy may reduced asthma risk in children with seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis.

II