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[Asthma in infants. Clinical and functional aspects]
1Laboratorie d'Explorations Fonctionnelles Respiratoires, Hôpital Trousseau, Paris.
Insights
Infants with early-onset asthma often experience severe symptoms and breathing difficulties. This suggests a significant clinical and physiological burden in young children with this condition.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Allergy and Immunology
- Neonatal Medicine
Context:
- Rising incidence of asthma in infancy.
- Unclear clinical and physiological characteristics of early-onset asthma.
- Need for better understanding of infant respiratory conditions.
Purpose:
- To investigate the clinical and physiological profiles of infants diagnosed with asthma.
- To characterize wheezing episodes (WE) and bronchial obstruction (BO) in this population.
- To identify factors associated with asthma severity in infants.
Summary:
- A study of 24 infants under 48 months with first wheezing episode before 30 months revealed frequent wheezing (1.1/month) and admissions (1.8).
- 71% exhibited bronchial obstruction (BO), often distal/generalized (59%) and moderate/severe (47%). 12.5% were hypoxemic.
- Asthma severity correlated with symptoms between episodes, multiple admissions, and ICU stays; theophylline showed a potential protective effect.
Impact:
- Highlights the severe nature of asthma in infants.
- Informs early diagnosis and management strategies for pediatric asthma.
- Underscores the need for further research into the pathophysiology of infant asthma.
Background:
The incidence of asthma in infancy is rising but its clinical and physiological components remain unclear.
Methods:
A total of 24 infants, aged less than 48 months, in whom the first wheezing episode (WE) appeared before the age of 30 months (mean age: 9 months) underwent clinical examination and pulmonary function tests at least 2 weeks after the last WE.
Results:
The mean WE frequency was 1.1 per month and the mean number of admissions for WE was 1.8. 63% of patients showed symptoms between WE and 50% had an allergic profile. There was no evidence of thoracic distension. Bronchial obstruction (BO) occurred in 71% of patients; among these, BO was distal or generalized in 59% and medium or severe in 47%. 12.5% of patients were hypoxemic at testing. BO was less severe in patients treated with theophylline; it was more frequent (87%) in those with symptoms between WE and/or several admissions, and/or admission to the intensive care unit.
Conclusion:
This study provides additional evidence that infants presenting with asthma at an early age have severe clinical and physiological profiles.