title: Risk factors for recurrent wheezing in the first year of life in the city of Córdoba, Argentina.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Wheezing is a very common respiratory symptom in infants. The prevalence of wheezing in infants, conducted in developed countries shows prevalence rates ranging between 20% and 30%. However, we do not know the risk factors in our population of wheezing infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  A standardised written questionnaire (WQ-P1-EISL) in infants between 12 and 18 months of age residing in the city of Cordoba was used; population/sample included 1031 infants. Recurrent wheezing (RW) was defined as three or more episodes of wheezing reported by the parents during the first 12 months of life. Data obtained were coded in Epi-Info™ (version 7) and statistically analysed with SPSS (version 17.5) software in Spanish. Parametric tests (one-way ANOVA) were performed for identifying significantly associated variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of wheezing infants was 39.7%; recurrent wheezing 33%; and severe wheezing 14.7%; 13.7% had pneumonia before the first year and of these 6.3% were hospitalised, multiple variables as risk factors for wheezing were found such as: >6 high airway infections and bronchiolitis in the first three months of life, smokers who smoke in the home among other risk factors and protective factors in those who have an elevated socioeconomic status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is known that persistent respiratory problems in children due to low socioeconomic status is a risk factor for wheezing, pneumonia and could be a determining factor in the prevalence and severity of RW in infants. Research suggests that there are areas for improvement in the implementation of new educational strategies.
authors.affiliation: Respiratory Center, Pediatric Hospital of Córdoba, Cordoba, Argentina; CIMER (Respiratory Medicine Investigation Center of Medicine Faculty), Catholic University of Córdoba, Cordoba, Argentina. Electronic address: ateijeirom@gmail.com.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Teijeiro
authors.affiliation: CIMER (Respiratory Medicine Investigation Center of Medicine Faculty), Catholic University of Córdoba, Cordoba, Argentina; Eastern Regional Clinic, San Francisco, Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Badellino
authors.affiliation: Respiratory Center, Pediatric Hospital of Córdoba, Cordoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Raiden
authors.affiliation: Respiratory Center, Pediatric Hospital of Córdoba, Cordoba, Argentina; CIMER (Respiratory Medicine Investigation Center of Medicine Faculty), Catholic University of Córdoba, Cordoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Cuello
authors.affiliation: CIMER (Respiratory Medicine Investigation Center of Medicine Faculty), Catholic University of Córdoba, Cordoba, Argentina; Chairman of Medicine at Catholic University of Cordoba and National University of Cordoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kevorkof
authors.affiliation: Chairman of Epidemiology of Medicine at Catholic University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gatti
authors.affiliation: CIMER (Respiratory Medicine Investigation Center of Medicine Faculty), Catholic University of Córdoba, Cordoba, Argentina; Cardiologic Model Institute, Cordoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: V H
authors.initials: VH
authors.lastname: Croce
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy, Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Dept of Pediatrics, Federal University of São PauloEscola Paulista de Medicina, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Solé
mesh_terms: D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012135:Respiratory Sounds; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000150:complications; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution
keywords: EISL; Infants; Protective and risk factors; Socioeconomic level; Wheezing