Infectious agents and childhood asthma

Symposium
Chairs: M. Pijnenburg (Rotterdam, Netherlands), S. Saglani (London, United Kingdom)
Aims: to describe the role of viral respiratory infections in the inception of asthma; to show how the airway microbiome and bacteria-virus interactions can both serve as targets for asthma prevention and treatment; to discuss how the environment and gut microbiomes can act as determinants of childhood asthma and to describe the implications for prevention; and to detail the management of childhood asthma in preschool children.

Early-life viral respiratory infections and childhood asthma inception - can we unlink the association? L. Bont (Utrecht, Netherlands)
It’s not just viruses - the airway microbiome, bacteria-virus interactions and childhood asthma A. Beigelman (St. Louis, MO, United States of America)
The environment and the gut microbiome - interesting association or a rich field for future therapies? E. von Mutius (München, Germany)
Preschool asthma - have randomised controlled trials provided clarity on management? J. Grigg (London, United Kingdom)