Risk Factors of Childhood Wheezing in Infants with Atopic Dermatitis

Jeon, You Hoon; Yang, Hyeon Jong; Pyun, Bok Yang

Abstract

PURPOSE: Infantile atopic dermatitis (AD) is one of the most important risk factors for development of childhood asthma. Those with persistent wheezing with atopy had a great risk of declining lung function. Our study was designed to find out the risk factors for wheezing in infants who has AD, therefore early detection of risk factors for developing wheezing.
METHODS
Three hundreds forty seven infants with AD who visited on our Pediatric Allergy Respiratory Center in Soonchunhyang University Hospital from January 2002 to December 2005 were enrolled and they were followed up till July 2006. We obtained familial allergy history and laboratory data such as serum total IgE, specific IgE and blood eosinophil count. We analyzed the factors affecting recurrent wheezing and persistent wheezing after 3 years old in children who had AD during infancy.
RESULTS
One-hundred ninety-four children (55.9%) developed wheezing. Male sex (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.7, 95% CI 1.1-2.7) and asthma history of parents or siblings (aOR 4.7, 95% CI 1.7-12.5) were the significant risk factors for development of wheezing. Serum total IgE (aOR 5.1 95% CI 1.1-22.5) and house dust mite sensitization (aOR 9.0, 95% CI 0.9-89.4) were significant risk factors for persistent wheezing after first three years of life.
CONCLUSION
We should be alert for asthma in cases of infantile AD especially in male sex or with familial asthma history. And we propose early identification and intervention for asthma in infantile AD with increased total IgE and with house dust mite sensitization.