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Tracy Hampton, PhD

JAMA. 2008;300(1):29.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

Toronto—Although asthma and allergy can develop at any point during an individual's life and for a variety of reasons, a number of factors during a woman's pregnancy and delivery might cause susceptibility in her offspring, according to findings presented recently at the American Thoracic Society's 2008 International Conference.

The research adds to the evidence that aspects of asthma and allergy may be programmed during pregnancy and then affect health in later life, said Wilfried Karmaus, MD, MPH, of the University of South Carolina in Columbia.

New research reveals a link between stress during pregnancy and childhood asthma. (Photo credit: Mark Thomas/www.sciencesource.com)

BIRTH ORDER EFFECTS

Karmaus' recent work revealed that firstborn children apparently are at higher risk of developing asthma and allergy because of unique conditions they experience in the uterus. His research team recruited more than 1200 newborns from England, ascertained their birth order, and sampled their . . . [Full Text of this Article]