title: Bronchiolitis in young infants: is it a risk factor for recurrent wheezing in childhood?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acute bronchiolitis in infancy is considered a risk factor for recurrent wheezing episodes in childhood. The present study assessed prevalence, clinical manifestations and risk factors for recurrent wheezing events during the first 3 years of life and persistent wheezing events beyond this age in children hospitalized as young infants with acute bronchiolitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two groups of children aged 6 years were included. The study group comprised 150 children with a history of hospitalization for bronchiolitis, with the first event at <6 months of age. The control group comprised 66 age- and sex-matched children with no history of bronchiolitis before 6 months of age. Children in both groups had been followed until 6 years of age by their pediatricians; data were obtained retrospectively by reviewing ambulatory records during children's visits in pediatricians' clinics. The data included epidemiological parameters, prevalence, age at onset, number of and treatments given for episodes of wheezing events prior to 6 years of age, pathogens detected, and severity of acute bronchiolitis in the study group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 58% and 27% of children in the study and control groups, respectively (P=0.001) had recurrent wheezing episodes prior to the age of 3 years. Children in the study group had earlier onset of recurrent wheezing, had more episodes of wheezing, and required more bronchodilator and systemic steroids treatments compared to the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hospitalization within the first six months of life for acute bronchiolitis is an independent risk factor for recurrent wheezing episodes during the first 3 years of life.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Department A', HaEmeq Medical Center, POB 10535, 16100, Afula, Israel. firasri@clalit.org.il.
authors.forename: Firas
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rinawi
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Infectious Disease unit, Meyer Children Hospital, Haifa, Israel.|The Ruth and Bruce Rappaport School of Medicine, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Imad
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kassis
authors.affiliation: The Ruth and Bruce Rappaport School of Medicine, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Rina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tamir
authors.affiliation: The Ruth and Bruce Rappaport School of Medicine, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.|Pediatric Department, Bnai Zion Medical Center, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kugelman
authors.affiliation: The Ruth and Bruce Rappaport School of Medicine, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.|Pediatric Department, Bnai Zion Medical Center, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Isaac
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Srugo
authors.affiliation: The Ruth and Bruce Rappaport School of Medicine, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.|Pediatric Infectious Disease Consultation Service, HaEmeq Medical Center, Afula, Israel.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Miron
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D001988:Bronchiolitis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence; D012016:Reference Values; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution
keywords: acute bronchiolitis; recurrent wheezing; young infants