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Updated: May 25, 2026

Auricular Acupressure as an Adjuvant Treatment for Wheezing in Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Published on: May 10, 2024
Does decline of lung function in wheezy infants justify the early start of controller medications?
Magdy Zedan1, Nehad Nasef, Mohamed El-Bayoumy
1Allergy Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Pin Code: 35516, Box 50, Mansoura, Egypt. magdyzedan@mans.edu.eg
Insights
Wheezy infants show altered lung function and higher immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels. Asthma risk factors, alongside immunological markers like IgE, can predict persistent wheezing in young children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Immunology
- Allergy Research
Background:
- Recurrent wheezing in infants is a common clinical problem.
- Identifying predictors for persistent asthma is crucial for early intervention.
- Asthma risk factors and immunological profiles may indicate future asthma development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare lung function and immunological parameters in wheezy infants.
- To assess the predictive value of risk factors and immunological markers for subsequent asthma.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 241 infants (5–36 months) with recurrent wheeze.
- Comparison between wheezy infants (with/without asthma risk factors) and healthy controls.
- Measurement of total serum IgE, eosinophilic percentage, and respiratory mechanics (tPTEF/tE, Crs, Rrs).
Main Results:
- Wheezy infants exhibited higher eosinophilic percentage and total serum IgE than controls.
- Wheezy infants showed significantly impaired pulmonary function parameters.
- Asthma risk factors (family history, lack of breastfeeding) correlated with reduced tPTEF/tE and elevated IgE/eosinophils.
Conclusions:
- Lung function, eosinophilic percentage, and total serum IgE are valuable predictors of ongoing wheeze in infants.
- Asthma risk factors are associated with specific immunological and lung function changes.
- These parameters can aid in identifying infants at higher risk for persistent asthma.
Objective:
To compare lung function in wheezy infants, with risk factors of asthma and with some immunological parameters which may be useful as predictors of subsequent asthma.
Methods:
The data of 241 infants aged 5–36 mo, with recurrent wheeze (≥3 episodes of physician confirmed wheeze) prior to receiving inhaled corticosteroids or anti-leukotrine agents was retrospectively analyzed. They were subdivided into 2 subgroups; those with asthma risk factors (132 patients) and those without (109 patients) Also, 67 healthy, age and sex matched children without recurrent wheezes were taken as control group. Total serum IgE, eosinophilic percentage, tPTEF/tE (time to peak expiratory flow to total expiratory time), total respiratory system compliance (Crs) and resistance of the respiratory system (Rrs) was done for patients and control groups.
Results:
Wheezy infants had a significantly higher eosinophilic percentage and total serum IgE as well as a significantly lower pulmonary function parameters when compared to healthy controls. Wheezy infants with positive family history of asthma and those who had not been breast fed showed significant reduction in the mean values of tPTEF/tE and increased both eosinophilic percentage and total serum IgE. Crs was significantly decreased in wheezy infants with positive seasonal variations and those who had increased both eosinophilic percentage and total serum IgE. Rrs showed significant increase in wheezy infants with positive family history of atopy and those who had increased eosinophilic percentage and increased total serum IgE.
Conclusions:
Lung function, eosinophilic percentage, total serum IgE and asthma risk factors could be used as predictors for ongoing wheeze in this subset of children.
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