The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology
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J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. · Jan 2010
Lower cortisol levels in children with asthma exposed to recurrent maternal distress from birth.
Existing evidence supports associations between exposure to maternal distress and the development of childhood asthma, between exposure to maternal distress and an increased cortisol response in children, and between childhood asthma and an attenuated cortisol response. ⋯ Among children exposed to recurrent maternal distress, an elevation in cortisol levels occurs in response to an acute stressor when there is no accompanying diagnosis of asthma, whereas, in comparison, children with asthma tend to exhibit lower cortisol levels.