ABSTRACT

In this study, we aimed to investigate wheezing etiology, risk factors of the patients who were 0-5 years of age and had at least 3 episodes of wheezing, in which the first episode is at 1-18 months of age.

The hospital files of 239 patients who were diagnosed as wheezy child, between 2010-2012, at Pediatric Allergy Department, were reviewed retrospectively. The laboratory findings, demographic features and attack triggers were recorded.

The mean age of first wheezing was 7.69±4.72 months, ranging from 1-18 months. The mean wheezing episode was 6.74. The male/female ratio was 162/77. Gastrooesophageal reflux was diagnosed in 14 (5.9%) patients. Exposure to smoke was 56.9%, dampness at home was 28.5%, pet at home was 1.3%. 25.9% of houses had stoves and 74.1% had central-heating. Family history for atopy was present in 46%. Atopy was investigated in 132 of 239 patients. Skin prick test was performed in 80 (33.5%) patients, and in 52 (21.7%) patients serum spesific IgE levels were investigated. According to skin prick tests, the patients were sensitive to 45.6% house dust mites, 32.9% grass pollens, 31.6% tree pollens, 6.3% animal danders and 1.3% egg white. 40.4% (21) of 52 patients that were tested with spesific IgE were found atopic, which is the 8.7% of the whole patients. In spesific IgE tests 26.9% were sensitive to egg-white, 19.2% to cow’s milk and 11.5% to house dust mites. Common cold was the major trigger of wheezing episode in 229 (95.8%) patients. No significant difference was found between the clinical features, progress and prescribed therapies in atopic and non-atopic patients in our study.

Exploring the etiology of wheezy children is important for prognosis. Early treatment plays an important role to prevent irreversible damage in the airways of atopic wheezers.