Increased Asthma Risk for Children Born to Women Exposed to Air Pollution

Pregnant women’s exposure to Asthma affects the baby in the womb and such babies may likely to develop asthma before they turn 5 years old, says a research at the University of British Columbia, UK. 

According to Hind Sbihi, research associate in the School of Population and Public Health at UCB, Pregnant women living in the metro cities are particularly affected due to emissions from the vehicular traffic. 

  

The study observed over 65, 000 children in the Vancouver, one of the largest metro cities. Researchers monitored the children below the age of 10 years that are diagnosed asthmatic and have closely assessed the health of the mothers, particularly whether or not they are exposed to vehicular pollution and if so the amount of black carbon, nitrogen dioxide, and nitric oxide intake.

The study revealed the link between the mother’s exposure to polluted air and Asthmatic developments in the new born before they turn 5 years; 25% of children whose mothers lived on the highways had increased risk of developing Asthma at formative years. The risk is particularly high with the increase in nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide levels. Children born with low birth weight and children born to older mother are also at a very high risk of getting affected due to this pollution and may develop asthmatic, the study concluded.  

Global Medical Emergency on Zika

In the wake of ‘Zika’ virus creating havoc in Latin American countries, World Health Organization (WHO) declares Zika as global emergency. This gesture reflects the seriousness of the situation as Brazil is worst hit by the disease, as there are already 4000 registered cases by the end of 2015.

 Zika was first appeared in Brazil by May 2015 and the virus quickly spread to as many as 20 countries within Americas. This virus is basically affecting pregnant women, resulting abnormal child birth. Children born of mother affected due to ‘Zika’ are born with abnormally small heads with damaged brains. Doctors are of the view that this is a clear evidence of ‘Microcephaly’ a congenital disease associated with abnormally small head, with signs of incomplete brain development. Researchers are not able to crack the mysterious link of the the Zika virus with that of Microcephaly till date.

Causes and consequences:

The initial understanding about the spread of this killer virus was through Aedes mosquito bites, which acts as carriers of ‘Zika’ virus. Most of the ‘Zika’ affected do not show any symptoms and the minor symptoms if any can be seen in the form of mild fever, headache, joint pains, eyes turning red, and rashes for a week.

Zika virus remains active for a week in the blood and it spread from person to person through blood transmission, and sex.

Although the disease appeared during 1947 in Uganda, scientists could successfully prevent its spread for decades. Brazil firmly believes 2014 World Cup Tournaments as the root cause of this disease, as foot ball fans in tens and thousands have visited this country from across the globe.

Important Measures to prevent Zika

Although there is no clear vaccine to prevent this epidemic, the spread of the disease can be prevented by taking necessary measures including safe sexual practices, use of condoms, taking all necessary measures in case of blood transfusions during emergency and measures that can stop the breed of mosquitoes freely. Pregnant women must particularly stay very careful and should not visit the affected countries. 

Although Bharat Biotech Ltd, a Hyderabad based Indian company declared that it has got the breakthrough in the form of earliest vaccine to prevent this disease, it is still at the nascent stage of trials and it may take 2 years or more to be available for the general consumption.