Associations between infant fungal and bacterial dysbiosis and childhood atopic wheeze in a nonindustrialized setting.

Background: Asthma is the most prevalent chronic disease of childhood. Recently, we identified a critical window early in the life of both mice and Canadian infants during which gut microbial changes (dysbiosis) affect asthma development. Given geographic differences in human gut microbiota worldwide, we studied the effects of gut microbial dysbiosis on atopic wheeze in a population living in a distinct developing world environment.

Effect of Early-Life Geohelminth Infections on the Development of Wheezing at 5 Years of Age.

Rationale: Exposures to geohelminths during gestation or early childhood may reduce risk of wheezing illness/asthma and atopy during childhood in tropical regions.

Objectives: To investigate the effect of maternal and early childhood geohelminths on development of wheeze/asthma and atopy during the first 5 years of life.

Methods: A cohort of 2,404 neonates was followed to 5 years of age in a rural district in coastal Ecuador.