PURPOSE: Wheezing following viral lower
respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) in
children <2 years of age is an important
risk factor for the development of
asthma later in
life ; however, not all
children with viral LRTIs develop
wheezing . This study investigated
risk factors for the development of
wheezing during viral LRTIs requiring
hospitalization .
METHODS: The study included 142
children <2 years of age hospitalized for LRTIs with at least one
virus identified as the cause and classified them into
children diagnosed with LRTIs with
wheezing (n=70) and those diagnosed with LRTIs without
wheezing (n=72).
RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the
viruses detected between the two groups. Multivariate
logistic regression analysis showed that, after adjusting for potentially
confounding variables including
sex and age, the development of
wheezing was strongly associated with parental
history of allergic
diseases (adjusted
odds ratio [aOR], 20.19; 95%
confidence interval [CI], 3.22-126.48), past
history of allergic
diseases (aOR, 13.95; 95% CI, 1.34-145.06), past
history of
hospitalization for respiratory illnesses (aOR, 21.36; 95% CI, 3.77-120.88), exposure to
secondhand smoke at home (aOR, 14.45; 95% CI, 4.74-44.07), and total
eosinophil count (aOR, 1.01; 95% CI, 1.01-1.02).
CONCLUSION: Past and parental
history of allergic
diseases , past
history of
hospitalization for respiratory illnesses, exposure to
secondhand smoke at home, and total
eosinophil count were closely associated with the development of
wheezing in
children <2 years of age
who required
hospitalization for viral LRTIs. Clinicians should take these factors into consideration when treating,
counseling , and
monitoring young
children admitted for viral LRTIs.