OBJECTIVETo investigate the percentage of T lymphocyte subsets and allergen screening results in infants and young children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) infection complicated by wheezing.

METHODSFlow cytometry was used to measure the percentage of peripheral blood T cell subsets in 354 infants and young children with MP infection complicated by wheezing (MP wheezing group), 336 infants and young children with MP infection but without wheezing (MP non-wheezing group), and 277 children with recurrent wheezing (recurrent wheezing group). Allergen screening was also performed for these children.

RESULTSBoth the MP wheezing group and recurrent wheezing group had significantly lower percentages of CD3and CD3CD8lymphocytes than the MP non-wheezing group (p<0.05). The MP groups with or without wheezing had a significantly higher percentage of CD3CD4lymphocytes than the recurrent wheezing group (p<0.05). Both the MP wheezing group and recurrent wheezing group had significantly higher percentages of CD3CD19and CD19CD23lymphocytes than the MP non-wheezing group (p<0.05), and the recurrent wheezing group had the highest percentages (p<0.05). The overall positive rate of food allergens was significantly higher than that of inhaled allergens (30.3% vs 14.7%; p<0.05). The positive rates of food and inhaled allergens in the recurrent wheezing group and MP wheezing group were significantly higher than in the MP non-wheezing group (p<0.05), and the recurrent wheezing group had the highest rates.

CONCLUSIONSImbalance of T lymphocyte subsets and allergic constitution play important roles in the pathogenesis of MP infection complicated by wheezing in infants and young children.

Allergens ; immunology ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma ; complications ; immunology ; Respiratory Sounds ; etiology ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; immunology

It is known that early childhood wheezing associated with sensitization to allergens, including food, has an increased risk of developing asthma later during school age. Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) is well known to be associated with asthma. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is an association between silent GER and food sensitization in infants and young children with recurrent wheezing. Eighty-five infants or young children with recurrent wheezing, and no gastrointestinal symptoms, underwent 24 hr esophageal pH monitoring, as well as total serum IgE and specific IgE testing for eggs and milk. Among the 85 subjects, 48.2% had significant GER. There was no significant difference in the GER between atopic and non-atopic recurrent wheezers (41.7% and 50.8%, respectively). The sensitization rate to food (eggs or milk) was 12.2% and 20.5% in the GER and non-GER groups, respectively and showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups (P=0.34). In conclusion, about half of infants and young children with recurrent wheezing and no gastrointestinal symptoms have silent GER. The silent GER may not contribute to food sensitization in infants and young children with recurrent wheezing.
Allergens/immunology ; Child, Preschool ; Esophageal pH Monitoring ; Female ; *Food Hypersensitivity/etiology/immunology ; *Gastroesophageal Reflux/complications/immunology ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; *Respiratory Sounds/etiology/immunology

OBJECTIVETo study the possible immunological mechanism of wheezing attack in children with cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection.

METHODSA total of 25 under-5-year-old children with wheezing following CMV infection were enrolled. The expression of serum regulatory T cells (Treg)/T helper 17 (Th17) cytokines interleukin (IL)-10, IL-6, and IL-17, and peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets were determined. Twenty age-matched healthy children were selected as the control group.

RESULTSThe wheezing group had a significantly reduced serum IL-10 level, significantly increased IL-6 and IL-17 levels, significantly reduced levels of natural killer cells, and significantly increased levels of CD8+ T cells and CD19+ B cells, as compared with the control group.

CONCLUSIONSWheezing children with CMV infection have Treg/Th17 imbalance and cellular immune dysfunction, which may be an important immunological mechanism of the development of wheezing in children after CMV infection.

Child, Preschool ; Cytokines ; blood ; Cytomegalovirus Infections ; immunology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Respiratory Sounds ; etiology ; immunology ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; immunology ; Th17 Cells ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the risk factors for recurrent wheezing in infants and young children suffering from dust mite allergy after their first wheezing.

METHODSA total of 1 236 infants and young children who experienced a first wheezing episode and were hospitalized between August 2014 and February 2015 were enrolled, among whom 387 were allergic to dust mites. These infants and young children were followed up to 1 year after discharge. A total of 67 infants and young children who experienced 3 or more recurrent wheezing episodes within 1 year were enrolled as the recurrent wheezing group, while 84 infants and young children who did not experience recurrent wheezing during follow-up were enrolled as the control group. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic stepwise regression analysis were performed to investigate the risk factors for recurrent wheezing in these patients.

RESULTSThe univariate analysis showed that the age on admission, wheezing time before admission, Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection rate, and influenza virus infection rate were associated with recurrent wheezing. The multivariate logistic stepwise regression analysis showed that the older age on admission (OR=2.21, P=0.04) and Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection (OR=3.54, P=0.001) were independent risk factors for recurrent wheezing.

CONCLUSIONSInfants and young children who are allergic to dust mites, especially young children, have a significantly increased risk of recurrent wheezing if they are complicated by Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection during the first wheezing episode.

Animals ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; complications ; Infant ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Pyroglyphidae ; immunology ; Recurrence ; Respiratory Sounds ; etiology ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo study the characteristics of allergic reactions to common aeroallergens in young children with wheezing or allergic diseases by examining the results of skin prick test in children under 5 years old.

METHODSA total of 196 children under 5 years old, from a district of Changsha City sampled between September 1 to December 31, 2010, were assigned into two groups according to the presence of wheezing or allergic diseases: allergen screening (n=102) and control (n=94). Skin prick tests were performed on both groups.

RESULTSThe positive rate of skin prick test in the allergen screening group was 61.8% (63/102), and this was significantly higher than in the control group (9.6%, 9/94; P<0.05). In the allergen screening group, the positive rate of skin prick test in children with both recurrent wheezing and allergic rhinitis was significantly higher than in children with wheezing alone (P<0.05). The frequency of wheezing was positively correlated with a positive skin prick test (r=0.91; P<0.05). The positive rate of skin prick test for mites was significantly higher than for other aeroallergens (24.2% vs 3.5%; P<0.05) in the allergen screening group. Skin prick testing of the children for dermatophagoides farinae showed a higher positive rate than for dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (50.0% vs 14.7%; P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSWheezing in early childhood may be associated with the occurrence of asthma. Skin prick testing contributes to the diagnosis of allergic diseases and assessment of allergic reactions to aeroallergens in children with wheezing.

Asthma ; etiology ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Respiratory Sounds ; diagnosis ; immunology ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; diagnosis ; immunology ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal ; diagnosis ; immunology ; Skin Tests

The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis, as well as the risk factors of wheezing among young adults in the Korean military. Young military conscripts in five areas completed a modified International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire. For subjects with current wheeze in one sample area, baseline spirometry and bronchodilator response were measured. For subjects without a significant response to bronchodilator (improvement in FEV1 of more than 200 mL and 12%), methacholine challenge tests (MCT) were also performed. Of 3,359 subjects that completed the questionnaire, 354 (10.5%) had current wheeze, 471 (14.0%) had current allergic rhinitis, and 326 (9.7%) had current eczema. Current wheeze was associated with family history of allergic disease, overweight, current smoking, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis. Of 36 subjects with current wheeze who underwent PFT with or without MCT in the Anyang area, 24 (66.7%) were confirmed to have current asthma. In conclusion, the prevalence of allergic disease in young adults of Korean military is not low, and the risk factors of wheezing include family history of allergic disease, overweight, current smoking, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis.
Adult ; Asthma/*complications/epidemiology/*immunology ; Bronchial Provocation Tests ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity/*epidemiology/*immunology ; *Military Personnel ; Prevalence ; Questionnaires ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Respiratory Sounds/*etiology ; Risk Factors ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the correlation factor about early-life RSV bronchiolitis and sequential recurrent wheezing for two years.

METHODSFollow up the RSV bronchiolitis patients for two years in order to analyze the occurrence of wheezing post-bronchiolitis. Single and multiple logistic regression analysis were used to determined the risk factors such as individual atopy history and familial atopy history, pet feeding, breast milk, secondhand smoke for RSV bronchiolitis and subsequent wheezing.

RESULTS(1) Not breast feeding, exposure to cigarette smoke and the deficiency of VitA, D were the significant risk factors contributed to the RSV branchiolitis. (2) Exposure to cigarette smoke, the deficiency of VitA, D, the personal history of atopy and the family history of atopy were the significant risk factors contributed to the post-bronchiolitis wheezing in children. (3) Those patients who eosinophilia, high serum IgE, RANTES and decreased TH1 to TH2 Ratio were more likely to have wheezing after RSV bronchiolitis.

CONCLUSION(1) Not breast feeding, exposure to cigarette smoke and the deficiency of VitA, D were the significant risk factors contributed to the RSV bronchiolitis. (2) Exposure to cigarette smoke, the deficiency of VitA, D, the personal history of atopy and the family history of atopy were the significant risk factors contributed to the post-bronchiolitis wheezing in children.

Breast Feeding ; Bronchiolitis ; complications ; immunology ; metabolism ; virology ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Respiratory Sounds ; etiology ; immunology ; Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections ; complications ; immunology ; metabolism ; virology ; Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human ; physiology ; Risk Factors ; Tobacco Smoke Pollution ; adverse effects ; Vitamin A ; metabolism ; Vitamin D ; metabolism