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Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels
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Reported versus confirmed wheeze and lung function in early life

L Lowe1, C S Murray, L Martin

  • 1North West Lung Research Centre, Wythenshawe Hospital, Southmoor Road, Manchester M23 9LT, UK. llowe@fs1.with.man.ac.uk

Archives of Disease in Childhood
|May 25, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Physician-confirmed wheeze in children is linked to poorer lung function. Parentally reported wheeze, however, showed no significant difference, suggesting a potential misunderstanding of the term "wheeze".

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric respiratory health
  • Allergy and immunology
  • Pulmonary function testing

Background:

  • Wheeze is a common respiratory symptom in young children.
  • Distinguishing between parentally reported and physician-confirmed wheeze is crucial for accurate diagnosis and prognosis.
  • Children at risk of allergic disease require careful monitoring of respiratory health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the relationship between parentally reported wheeze, physician-confirmed wheeze, and subsequent lung function in children.
  • To assess if parentally reported wheeze predicts future lung function deficits.
  • To determine the clinical significance of physician-confirmed wheeze in early childhood.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective cohort study of children at risk for allergic disease, recruited antenatally.
  • Parental reporting of wheeze during the first three years of life, with physician confirmation.
  • Lung function assessment using specific airway resistance (sR(aw)) via body plethysmography at age 3 years.

Main Results:

  • Physician-confirmed wheeze was present in 28.6% of 454 children followed to age 3.
  • Children with physician-confirmed wheeze exhibited significantly higher specific airway resistance (sR(aw)) compared to those without wheeze or with unconfirmed wheeze (p < 0.001).
  • No significant difference in sR(aw) was found between children who never wheezed and those with parentally reported but unconfirmed wheeze.

Conclusions:

  • Physician-confirmed wheeze is a significant indicator of poorer lung function in young children.
  • Parental perception of wheeze may not always align with medical definitions, potentially impacting early diagnosis.
  • Accurate confirmation of wheeze by healthcare professionals is vital for identifying children at risk for persistent respiratory issues.
Abstract

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