The study involved 1,041 children, aged 5 to 12 years with mild to moderate persistent asthma. The participants were tested with annual spirometry tests with methacholine to gauge the responsiveness of their airways.

Over the years it was found that while girls required the same dose of methacholine. Boys needed bigger ones indicating they may have combated the disease.

"Our results point to intriguing potential mechanisms to explain the gender differences in asthma incidence and severity. Especially intriguing is that the differences in gender begin at the time of transition into early puberty," said lead author Dr Kelan Tantisira.

The details appear in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

Source-Medindia
RAS/L