TY - JOUR T1 - Early childhood infections with rotavirus and norovirus are associated with risk of developing asthma JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J VL - 38 IS - Suppl 55 SP - p1136 AU - Monique Mommers AU - Melanie Ogunyena AU - John Penders AU - Johan Reimerink AU - Foekje Stelma AU - Marion Koopmans AU - Carel Thijs Y1 - 2011/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p1136.abstract N2 - Background: The role of early infections in asthma aetiology is not fully understood. Most research has focussed on respiratory infections and, although gastroenteritis has been associated with increased asthma risk, gastrointestinal viruses have thus far received little attention.Aim: To investigate whether infection with gastrointestinal viruses during infancy is associated with the development of childhood asthma and related atopic manifestations.Methods: In 591 children from the KOALA Birth Cohort Study, IgG seropositivity for rotavirus and norovirus (GGII.4 and GGI.1) was determined at age 1 year. Gastrointestinal symptoms during the 1st year were assessed by repeated questionnaires. Associations with childhood asthma at 6-7 years, wheeze and eczema until age 6-7 years, atopic dermatitis at age 2 years and specific IgE at age 2 years and 6-7 years were analysed using multivariable logistic regression and GEE.Results: Children seropositive for rotavirus at age 1 year had an increased risk for subsequent asthma (adjusted odds ratio 2.36; 95% Confidence Interval 1.00–5.62) and wheeze (1.90; 1.33-2.71), with the highest risk observed in children with rotavirus infection with intestinal symptoms (4.56; 2.78–7.48). Norovirus GGII.4 seropositivity at age 1 year was associated with decreased asthma risk (0.26; 0.08–0.85), and GGI.1 seropositivity was associated with decreased risk of wheeze until age 6-7 years (0.65; 0.42–1.00).Conclusion: Early life rotavirus and norovirus infections are associated with wheeze and asthma development. Symptomatic rotavirus infection might reveal an underlying general susceptibility to wheeze and asthma or may be causal factor if viremia occurs. ER -