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THE CANADIAN PRESS

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WINNIPEG - A Manitoba researcher is heading up a national study on what environmental factors might cause allergies and asthma in children.

The study questioning pregnant women on allergy history and monitoring their children after birth will help researchers get closer to prevention.

"The whole goal is to try to understand why it starts and if you understand that, you can figure out what you need to do in order to prevent development of allergic diseases and asthma," said Dr. Allan Becker, a researcher with the Manitoba Institute of Child Health.

"You may well be able to help prevent other chronic diseases from developing."

Becker said the number of children with asthma has skyrocketed but researchers haven't pinpointed why the numbers are going up.

Almost 14 per cent of Manitoba children under 18 years old suffer from chronic respiratory illness.

"It's an epidemic in Manitoba and in Canada. It is an international problem and it is a huge issue for children and their families," Becker said. "Asthma is the most common chronic disease that brings children to hospital, the emergency department, it keeps them away from school and as a result keeps their parents away from work."

The national study, to be carried out by researchers in Winnipeg, Vancouver, Edmonton and Toronto, is different than most studies. They will record information in real-time, instead of parents recalling an allergy attack their child had years before, Becker said.

The researchers hope to recruit as many as 5,000 pregnant women and their family from across Canada to take part in the study.

They will fill out questionnaires, give a blood sample and a researcher will come to their home to collect samples of things such as toxins, bacteria, dust mites or pet hair.