The effect of recurrent wheezing on effective airway resistance in infants

Abstract EN

Background: Aims : to detect the effect of recurrent wheezing on the effective airway resistance in infants which may predispose later on to childhood asthma.

Methods : careful history taking , physical examination and measurement of effective airway resistance by using body plethysmography.

80 patients were included in the study divided as group A (40 patients with single episode of wheezing) and group B (40 patients with recurrent wheezing).

For both groups measurement was done in the 1st visit, as well as at follow up 1 month later (2nd visit), and 3 months later (3rd visit).) Results : both groups were compared as regard the demographic data, positive family history of atopic, exposure to parental smoking, elder sibling, concomitant atopic manifestation, presence of risk factor for asthma and airway resistance measurement in the three visits.

A statistically significant difference was found between both groups in the three visits (p = 0.034, 0.000, 0.000) respectively.

Follow up of patients of group A, revealed that most of the patients have attained normal airway function and caliber by the end of the study.

Follow up of group B, revealed that most of the patients still had abnormal airway caliber and function.

Conclusion: Comparison of effective airway resistance between infants with single episode of wheezing, and those with recurrent wheezing, revealed that those with single wheezy episode had better airway caliber and function than those with recurrent wheezing, this due to repeated insult to the lung by inflammatory pathologic process causing wheezy episodes with consequent early airway remodeling.

Early detection and suitable anti-inflammatory therapy might have important therapeutic impact on both disease outcome and lung function.