A major international study published November 29, 2025, in Science Immunology delivers striking news for parents and pediatricians: Babies who suffer severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections in their first months of life face a heightened risk of developing childhood asthma—particularly if there’s a family history of allergies or asthma.
Prof. Bart Lambrecht from Belgium’s VIB (Flanders Institute for Biotechnology) and Ghent University, who collaborated with Danish researchers, explained, “Childhood asthma is a complex disease with many contributing factors. We found that early-life RSV infection and genetic allergy risk interact in a very specific way that pushes the immune system toward asthma.”
The team’s findings point to an amplifying effect—when inherited allergy risk and early viral infection combine, infants’ immune systems are much more likely to overreact to common allergens like house dust mites. The risk is dramatically worsened for children who inherit allergen-specific antibodies from parents, creating a sort of “double whammy” for sensitivity.
RSV Prevention: A New Opportunity
However, the news isn’t all bleak. The researchers also discovered in experimental models that protecting newborns from RSV stopped these immune changes in their tracks and actually prevented asthma from developing later. In Prof. Lambrecht’s words, “With RSV prevention now becoming widely accessible, we have an opportunity to improve long-term respiratory health, not just prevent RSV hospitalisations.”
This evidence is fueling calls for coordinated action among scientists, healthcare providers, and policymakers. “If preventing RSV infection also reduces asthma risk,” says Lambrecht, “the benefits for families and health systems could be enormous.” As RSV vaccines and antibody treatments roll out in more countries, preventing RSV could soon become a cornerstone in the global fight against childhood asthma—not just another seasonal concern.
The research underscores a critical point for parents: early RSV prevention isn’t just about avoiding short-term illness. It could mean healthier, easier breathing for children well into the future.
