European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Background: Wheezing in early life is a common disorder, with approximately 50% of children having an episode of wheezing in the first year of life. A recurrent wheeze is estimated to occur in one-third of children of preschool age and can cause significant morbidity, decrease quality of life, and increase the frequency of the use of health care services and economic costs. In young children, wheezing, either transient or persistent, can be severe and cause a poor quality of life with frequent use of health care system and economic costs.
Aims and Objectives: To study the demographic and clinical profile of children presenting with wheeze, monitor their clinical course and relation to environmental factors if any.
Material and Methods: Prospective observational clinical study was done which included children from 6 months to 5 years of age presented with wheeze and admitted in pediatric ward November 2018 to April 2019. Every patient was managed according to GINA guidelines and followed up for 1 year since their admission.
Results: Wheeze accounted for 34% of total paediatric admissions in ward with male-female ratio 2:1. 82% were episodic wheezers, of which 52.2% were first time wheezers. All risk factors studied, co-related with most previous studies. No significant correlation was found between wheezers and monthly AQI during study. Over 1 year, 64.8% patients could be followed up as per protocol, 52.8% of followed up patients, had at least one episode of wheeze. Low birth weight, 1^st episode of wheeze in infancy and episodic wheeze were found to be significant risk factors for repeat episode of wheeze.
Conclusion: A complex relationship exists between various factors which may be responsible for the recurrence of wheeze.Proportion of morbidity caused by wheeze is quite high in comparison to other respiratory diseases. It poses a great challenge for a clinician not only to diagnose and effectively treat the child but also identify risk factors so that steps may be taken to eliminate them if possible.