Asthma, Allergy in Children Linked with ADHD Risk

According to a new study, boys with a history of allergy or asthma are at a higher risk of developing ADHD.

ADHD or Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder is characterized with the inability in paying attention, controlling behavior and being overtly active. The condition is rapidly increasing in the U.S., with one out of every ten children showing symptoms of ADHD. The condition can't be cured but can successfully be controlled.

"ADHD, a chronic mental health disorder, is most commonly found in males, while asthma is also more common in young boys than girls," said Eelko Hak, lead author of the study. "We found there is an increased risk of ADHD in boys with a history of asthma and an even stronger risk associated with milk intolerance."

Researchers from Netherlands and Boston who conducted the study said that there might be a link between ADHD and allergies. The study included data of 884 boys with ADHD and 3,536 boys who weren't diagnosed with the condition.

In the study group, about 34 percent of the boys had asthma and 35 percent had some kind of allergic reaction. Researchers said that the medication used to treat asthma or allergies may be increasing the risk of ADHD.

"Further research is needed to understand why there appears to be an increased risk of developing ADHD in children with allergy and asthma. Medications for these conditions far outweigh the risks, and can be life-saving in some conditions. Treatment should not be stopped, unless advised by a board-certified allergist," said Gailen Marshall, MD, editor-in-chief of Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, according to a news release.

The study is published in the journal Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.