title: Meconium aspiration syndrome, parental atopy and asthma symptoms in children under two years old.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the association among meconium aspiration syndrome, parental atopy and asthma symptoms in children younger than two years.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred thirty six children who had suffered meconium aspiration syndrome were followed from birth to they were two years old. CONTROL GROUP included 136 healthy children without meconium aspiration syndrome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Group of children with meconium aspiration syndrome: The average hospital stay in neonatal intensive care unit was of 5.91 +/- 4.44 days and were given 65.5 +/- 16.6 hours of oxygen. Prevalence of asthma symptoms during the last year was of 41.2%; 35.7% had family history of allergies (p = NS). The average age at the beginning of asthma symptoms was of 12.64 +/- 6.96 months; 78.6% of children were male.
  
  
  METHODS
  30.9% had wheezing episodes during the last 12 months; 28.6% were male; 38.1% had family history of allergies (p = NS). The average age at the beginning of asthma symptoms was of 15.57 +/- 6.05 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Aspiration of meconium seems to be an important risk factor of the early beginning of asthma symptoms in children younger than two years. Data shows that the prevalence of asthma symptoms was higher in case group than in control group. Asthma symptoms risk increases in children with aspiration meconium syndrome and family background of allergies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Research of the Faculty of Medicine of Tampico, Autonomous University of Tamaulipas, Mexico. fvazqueznava@yahoo.com.mx
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vázquez Nava
authors.forename: Eulalio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Salas Ramírez
authors.forename: Héctor R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Sánchez Núncio
authors.forename: Atenógenes H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Saldivar González
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Beltrán Saldaña
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cadena Mata
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pérez Rodŕiguez
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pérez Martin
authors.forename: Victor Manuel
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guidos Fogelbach
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008471:Meconium Aspiration Syndrome; D010290:Parents