ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to improve our knowledge of the main clinical and epidemiological characteristics of the lower respiratory tract illnesses with wheezing (LRTIW) in children under 2 years of age and its associated risk factors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The clinical records of children born between January 1, 1988 and December 31, 1995 and controlled in a primary care center were reviewed. Two types of studies were carried-out: 1) A descriptive and retrospective study was performed where children diagnosed with LRTIW were selected and studied. Those patient meeting the criteria for McConnochie's bronchiolitis were also identified. 2) A case-control study was carried out where children affected with LRTIW were the cases and the rest controls. RESULTS: From 476 clinical records, 259 were included in the study. LRTIW was diagnosed in 101 children, with 261 episodes of illness and a median of 2 (P25-75 = 1-4). Of this group, 96 had bronchiolitis and a mean age of 7.5 +/- 4.7 months with ten 10 being hospitalized (mean age 2.7 +/- 1.4 months). The odds ratio for risk factors were as follows: premature birth (6.3), family history of asthma (4.1) or atopia (2.3), atopic dermatitis (3.4), older siblings (2.6), born in the second semester of the year (2), maternal smoking (2) and both parents smoking (2.4). No statistically significant differences were found for sex, breast-feeding or day-care attendance. CONCLUSIONS: Lower respiratory tract illnesses are frequent in children who are 0 to 2 years of age and have a positive relationship with some risk factors.
