Factors Influencing Recurrent Wheezing in Infants: The Relationship between Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections and the Development of Recurrent Wheezing

Abstract

Purpose:This study investigated factors affecting recurrent wheezing in infants, focusing on whether or not respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections in children <3 years of age induce recurrent wheezing later in life. Methods:The inclusion criteria were children <3 years of age who were hospitalized for an RSV infection from January 2006 to December 2009. We evaluated lateral flow immunochroma- tography (RSV Respi-Strip test). Subjects with at least three episodes of physician-verified whee- zing were defined as recurrent wheezers. A group of 79 children hospitalized with RSV infections were compared with a matched control group. The following data were collected: age, gender, admis- sion duration, gestational age, obesity, history of atopic dermatitis, parental history of allergic diseases, exposure to passive smoking, exposure to indoor animals, and daycare attendance. Results:Rates of obesity and exposure to passive smoking were significantly higher in the RSV group than those in the control group. The frequency of recurrent wheezing in the RSV group (39.2 %) was higher than that in the control group (10.1%). Compared to the control group, recurrent wheezing occurred 5.76 times more often in the RSV group, 2.49 times more often in males, and 2.41 times often in patients with a parental history of allergic diseases. Conclusion:The results demonstrated that RSV infection is significantly associated with recur- rent wheezing, and that the risk is higher in male children and in children with a parental history of allergic diseases. (Pediatr Allergy Respir Dis(Korea) 2011;21:319-325)