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[Asthma in infants and young children: definitions and epidemiology]

G Dutau1

  • 1Service d'allergologie et de pneumologie, hôpital des Enfants, 330, avenue de Grande-Bretagne, BP 3119, 31026 Toulouse, France. guy.dutau@wanadoo.fr

Archives De Pediatrie : Organe Officiel De La Societe Francaise De Pediatrie
|September 11, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric asthma is a syndrome, not a disease, with most infants not developing persistent allergic asthma. Careful evaluation is crucial to distinguish true asthma from other conditions in wheezy children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Allergy and Immunology
  • Epidemiology

Context:

  • Infant and young child asthma (under school age) is recognized as a syndrome, not a distinct disease.
  • Existing definitions from 1981 remain relevant, but recent epidemiological data reveal diverse clinical scenarios.

Purpose:

  • To differentiate between transient wheezing syndromes and persistent asthma in young children.
  • To highlight the importance of accurate diagnosis for appropriate management and prognosis.

Summary:

  • Less than 20% of infants diagnosed with asthma have allergic asthma that persists beyond age 10.
  • Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis is a common cause of childhood asthma, but pre-existing airway abnormalities can complicate interpretation of sequelae.
  • Prospective follow-up of newborn cohorts and thorough examination of wheezy children are essential to exclude "false asthma" and identify "true asthma".

Impact:

  • Improved diagnostic accuracy for pediatric asthma.
  • Better understanding of asthma phenotypes in early childhood.
  • Informed clinical management strategies for wheezy infants and young children.

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