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Award-wining study proves childhood BCG link with reduction in asthma symptoms
15 November 2007
One in three children in the UK experiences symptoms of allergic diseases like Asthma. Symptoms such as wheeze can diminish quality of life, affect development and cost around £53m a year to treat in pre-school children.
A study has found that vaccinating young babies against TB with a BCG jab could have the added benefit of protecting against conditions such as asthma.
Dr Mary Linehan's investigation found that those who received this early boost to their immune system had a 27 percent reduction in the chance of developing childhood wheeze. Now the team have had their hard work recognised by the Bupa Foundation, winning the medical research charity's Epidemiology Award.
Dr Linehan said: "Winning the Bupa Foundation Epidemiology Award has been a great acknowledgement on our work. The award will help us to take this study to the next level."
The vice-chairman of the Bupa Foundation, Dr Andrew Vallance-Owen, said: "The incidence of Asthma continues to rise. This team linked childhood vaccination with a reduction in Asthma and proved their case."
Dr Linehan received her Bupa Foundation award at a ceremony at Lincoln 's Inn in London on the evening of 14 November 2007 .
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