title: Risk factors for recurrent wheezing in infants: a case-control study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the association between recurrent wheezing and atopy, the Asthma Predictive Index, exposure to risk factors, and total serum IgE levels as potential factors to predict recurrent wheezing.
  
  
  METHODS
  A case-control study with infants aged 6-24 months treated at a specialized outpatient clinic from November 2011 to March 2013. Evaluations included sensitivity to inhalant and food antigens, positive Asthma Predictive Index, and other risk factors for recurrent wheezing (smoking during pregnancy, presence of indoor smoke, viral infections, and total serum IgE levels).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We evaluated 113 children: 65 infants with recurrent wheezing (63.0% male) with a mean age of 14.8 (SD = 5.2) months and 48 healthy infants (44.0% male) with a mean age of 15.2 (SD = 5.1) months. In the multiple analysis model, antigen sensitivity (OR = 12.45; 95%CI 1.28-19.11), positive Asthma Predictive Index (OR = 5.57; 95%CI 2.23-7.96), and exposure to environmental smoke (OR = 2.63; 95%CI 1.09-6.30) remained as risk factors for wheezing. Eosinophilia ≥ 4.0% e total IgE ≥ 100 UI/mL were more prevalent in the wheezing group, but failed to remain in the model. Smoking during pregnancy was identified in a small number of mothers, and secondhand smoke at home was higher in the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Presence of atopy, positive Asthma Predictive Index and exposure to environmental smoke are associated to recurrent wheezing. Identifying these factors enables the adoption of preventive measures, especially for children susceptible to persistent wheezing and future asthma onset.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brasil.
authors.forename: Roberta Barros
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: de Sousa
authors.affiliation: Departamento Materno Infantil, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brasil.
authors.forename: Décio
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Medeiros
authors.affiliation: Departamento Materno Infantil, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brasil.
authors.forename: Emanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sarinho
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Clínica, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brasil.
authors.forename: José Ângelo
authors.initials: JÂ
authors.lastname: Rizzo
authors.affiliation: Departamento Materno Infantil, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brasil.
authors.forename: Almerinda Rêgo
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Departamento Materno Infantil, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brasil.
authors.forename: Ana Carolina Dela
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Bianca
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012008:Recurrence; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution; D007073:Immunoglobulin E