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Early childhood wheezing: various natural courses and their relationship to later asthma

Dong In Suh1, Young Yull Koh

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Korean Journal of Pediatrics
|September 15, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Wheezing in young children often resolves but can develop into asthma. Birth cohort studies help understand wheezing phenotypes and asthma risks for better management.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Pulmonology
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Wheezing is a common pediatric respiratory symptom, frequently linked to bronchiolitis.
  • While often transient, some childhood wheezing episodes can predict the development of asthma.
  • Previous studies relied on biased retrospective data, limiting understanding of wheezing's natural history.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review early childhood wheezing phenotypes and their natural progression.
  • To identify risk factors associated with the development of asthma from early wheezing.
  • To inform optimal management strategies for diverse wheezing presentations in children.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review of birth cohort studies focusing on early childhood wheezing.
  • Analysis of wheezing phenotypes, natural course, and asthma development.
  • Evaluation of risk factors identified in longitudinal studies.

Main Results:

  • Distinct phenotypes of early childhood wheezing have been identified.
  • Longitudinal data confirm varying natural histories for different wheezing phenotypes.
  • Specific risk factors are associated with persistent wheezing and subsequent asthma.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding wheezing phenotypes is crucial for predicting asthma risk.
  • Birth cohort studies provide valuable insights into the natural history of childhood wheezing.
  • Tailored management approaches based on phenotype can improve outcomes for children with wheezing.

Keywords:
AsthmaCohort studiesInfantPreschool childWheezing

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