Abstract

In this study, 110 children between 1 month and 3 years of age, who had experienced 3 or more wheezing episodes were investigated; the etiology and risk factors were examined. Also, etiology and risk factor profiles are evaluated on the basis of related literature. For early childhood wheezing, the risk factors determined were; male sex, young maternal age, maternal asthma, dampness at home, sibling history of asthma or wheezing attacks, and intermediate social status. Studies regarding etiology showed, 7 patients (6%) to have partial Ig A deficiency, 1 patient (2%) IgG2 subclass deficiency and 1 patient (2%) IgG3 subclass deficiency. Eight children had high IgE (7%) levels. Purified protein derivative (PPD) skin testing was performed in all cases and only one had a positive skin reaction to PPD. Acid-fast staining was performed in 25 children; positive results were found in 4. Sweat chloride testing was performed in 69 children and 14 had positive results. By mutation identification, 2 had a diagnosis of cystic fibrosis. Gastric scintigraphy was performed in 43 (39%). Of these, 24 (56%) had positive results for gastroesophageal reflux. During CT examination of the thorax of 41 patients showed that 16 patients had pneumonia, 5 had atelectasis, 3 had bronchiectasis, 3 had obliterative bronchiolitis, 1 had bronchogenic cysts, 1 had interstitial lung disease; 12 children revealed no pathology.