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Published on: August 7, 2017
Epidemiology of virus-induced wheezing/asthma in children
Yuzaburo Inoue1, Naoki Shimojo1
1Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University Chiba, Japan.
Insights
Viral respiratory infections in early childhood can lead to wheezing, a symptom linked to asthma development. Different viruses have varying impacts, and understanding these and other risk factors is key for prevention.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric respiratory medicine
- Epidemiology of infectious diseases
- Asthma research
Background:
- Wheezing in early childhood is a common lower respiratory symptom associated with viral infections.
- Epidemiological studies identify distinct wheezing phenotypes with varying asthma risk factors.
- Major viral culprits include respiratory syncytial virus, rhinovirus, human metapneumovirus, and influenza viruses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review findings on viral infections and childhood wheezing.
- To discuss the differential impact of various viruses on asthma development.
- To explore interactions between viral infections and other asthma risk factors like genetics and allergies.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of epidemiological studies and recent research.
- Synthesis of data on viral species and their association with asthma.
- Analysis of the interplay between infection, genetics, and sensitization.
Main Results:
- Different viral species have distinct effects on asthma development.
- Interactions between viral infections and host factors (genetic, allergic) influence asthma risk.
- Early childhood wheezing phenotypes predict later asthma development.
Conclusions:
- Effective clinical interventions targeting viral infections are crucial for asthma prevention.
- Understanding specific viral impacts and risk factor interactions can guide preventative strategies.
- Further research into the mechanisms linking viral infections to asthma is warranted.
Abstract:
Wheezing is a lower respiratory tract symptom induced by various viral respiratory infections. Epidemiological studies have revealed the phenotypes of wheezing in early childhood which have different risk factors for the development of asthma among school age children. The major viral species causing wheezing in children include respiratory syncytial virus, rhinovirus, human metapneumovirus and influenza viruses. It has been shown that the impact on the development of asthma is different between those virus species. Moreover, recent studies have also focused on the interaction between virus infection and other risk factors in the development of asthma, such as genetic factors or allergic sensitization. In this review, we summarize the previous findings and discuss how clinicians can effectively intervene in these viral infections to prevent the development of asthma.
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