Infant lung function, bronchial responsiveness and the development of asthma.
Infants who wheeze are likely to have narrowed or overly compliant airways rather than atopy. After around 3 years of age, airway responsiveness and atopy are associated with the development of wheeze and the diagnosis of asthma. Anti- or proinflammatory genes are likely to be responsible for at least part of the predisposition to wheeze seen in older children, but further studies are needed to clarify this situation.
Le Souëf
P
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Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Perth.
D001249:Asthma / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001980:Bronchi / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008168:Lung / Q000502:physiology*