Childhood asthma in Europe - is it still increasing and what are the causes?

Oral Presentation
Chairs: C. Kuehni (Bern, Switzerland), S. Turner (Aberdeen, United Kingdom)

International variation in the prevalence of asthma in children: the role of atopic sensitisation and economic development S. K. Weiland, G. Weinmayr, P. Rzehak, G. Büchele, B. Björkstén, L. García-Marcos, B. Brunekreef, W. O. C. Cookson, E. von Mutius, D. P. Strachan, ISAAC Phase II Study Group (Germany; Sweden; Spain; Netherlands; United Kingdom)
Breastfeeding and the risk of asthma symptoms in the Phase II international study on allergies and asthma in childhood (ISAAC) G. Nagel, G. Weinmayr, G. Büchele, B. Björkstén, B. Brunekreef, W. O. C. Cookson, E. von Mutius, D. P. Strachan, S. K. Weiland (Ulm, Munich, Germany; Stockholm, Sweden; Utrecht, Netherlands; Oxford, London, United Kingdom)
Is routine immunisation associated with a reduced incidence of childhood asthma? B. D. Spycher, M. Silverman, A. M. Brooke, M. Zwahlen, C. E. Kuehni (Berne, Switzerland; Leicester, United Kingdom)
Changing pattern of asthma admissions in children over 15 years in Galway, Ireland A. Shabu, M. Carr, E. Crushell, B. G. Loftus (Galway, Ireland)
Assessment of the relationship between endotoxin and current asthma and wheeze in a case control study of school age children D. C. Rennie, J. A. Lawson, S. P. Kirychuk, P. Willson, C. Paterson, S. Senthilselvan, H. H. McDuffie (Saskatoon, Edmonton, Canada)
Reduced maternal vitamin E intake during pregnancy is associated with asthma in 5-year-old children S. W. Turner, G. Devereux, L. C. Craig, G. McNeill, P. Helms, A. Seaton (Aberdeen, United Kingdom)
Relationships between school indoor environment and respiratory health in children of five European countries (HESE Study) M. Simoni, I. Annesi-Maesano, T. Sigsgaard, D. Norback, G. Wieslander, W. Lystad, M. Canciani, G. Viegi, P. Sestini (Pisa, Siena, Italy; Paris, France)
Increasing proportion of children with asthma and atopic disease from high risk families. A consequence of parental recruitment? N. Tagiyeva-Milne, G. McNeill, G. Russell, P. J. Helms (Aberdeen, United Kingdom)