Bronchial hyperreactivity and history of wheezing in children

Abstract

Wheezing is a very common symptom in childhood and only partly associated with later bronchial hyperreactivity. On the other hand, asthma is often not diagnosed despite bronchial hyperreactivity and many years of wheezing.

Pertussis infection and vaccination induces Th1 cells

“…In fact the reverse is true for active infection with B. pertussis: allergic sensitization is slightly increased in children with a history of pertussis 12,13 . In this situation it is the infectious 'input' and not input deprivation that is associated with allergy.…”

Epidemiology and Natural History of Atopic Disease

“…Moreover, it causes the same number of school absences in the first 5 days, while for longer periods up to >20 days, the total is 18% vs 35% for asthma [135]. There are children with a transient early wheeze aged <3, likely in connection with a reduced airway development at this time and with VRIs, persistently wheezing children aged <3 and between 3 and 6, and others with a late wheezing aged between 3 and 6, associated with atopy and development of BHR heralding asthma onset [200,296,321,347] and aeroallergen sensitization [308] over age 11 (Table 5.11). In addition, many parents may forget minor episodes of wheezing in their babies with the passing years, thus underestimating their percentage: this may explain why 49% of such children elude diagnosis [158].…”