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Types of asthma and wheezing
1Respiratory Sciences Center, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson 85724, USA.
The European Respiratory Journal. Supplement
|August 12, 1998
Summary
Childhood asthma is a spectrum of conditions. Early wheezing often resolves, but persistent asthma in children may be linked to genetics, allergies, and distinct immune responses to viruses.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Allergology
- Immunology
Background:
- Childhood asthma presents as a spectrum of conditions characterized by recurrent bronchial obstruction.
- Differentiating various
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the spectrum of childhood asthma and identify factors differentiating transient from persistent wheezing syndromes.
- To highlight the need for early identification of inflammatory markers for effective asthma prevention strategies.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing evidence on childhood asthma and wheezing syndromes.
- Analysis of risk factors including age, genetics, birth maturation, and allergic sensitization.
- Comparison of immune responses to viral infections in transient versus persistent wheezers.
Main Results:
- Recurrent obstructive symptoms in early childhood (first 3 years) often remit, with low lung function as a key risk factor for transient episodes.
- Persistent wheezing beyond infancy is associated with a family history of asthma and allergies, and early allergic symptoms.
- Children with persistent wheezing exhibit distinct acute immune responses to viruses compared to transient wheezers.
Conclusions:
- Childhood asthma is heterogeneous, with distinct phenotypes for transient and persistent wheezing.
- Early identification of inflammatory markers in lower respiratory symptoms is crucial for developing future asthma prevention strategies.