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Following up infant bronchiolitis patients provided new evidence for and against the united airway disease hypothesis
Author(s) -
Lauhkonen Eero,
Koponen Petri,
Nuolivirta Kirsi,
Helminen Merja,
Paassilta Marita,
Toikka Jyri,
Korppi Matti
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
acta paediatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/apa.13537
Subject(s) - medicine , bronchiolitis , asthma , allergy , respiratory disease , airway , pulmonary function testing , pediatrics , respiratory system , lung function , lung , immunology , anesthesia
Abstract Aim The united airway disease ( UAD ) hypothesis suggests that allergic rhinitis and asthma develop together. We evaluated the evidence for and against the UAD hypothesis at five to seven years of age after hospitalisation for bronchiolitis at less than six months. Methods This study used prospective follow‐up data for 102 children hospitalised for bronchiolitis under the age of six months. We included the presence of previous and current asthma, prolonged rhinitis and skin prick tests ( SPT ) to common inhaled allergens and lung function by impulse oscillometry ( IOS ) at five to seven years of age. Bronchial hyper‐reactivity ( BHR ) was assessed using the exercise challenge test and bronchodilation test. Results Current asthma, but not previous transient asthma, was associated with prolonged rhinitis and a positive SPT . BHR , which reflected reactive airways, but not lung function, was associated with respiratory allergy, namely the combination of current asthma, prolonged rhinitis and a positive SPT . Conclusion This post‐bronchiolitis follow‐up study suggested an association between respiratory allergy and reactive airways at five to seven years of age, which supported the UAD hypothesis. However, previous transient asthma and a reduction in lung function reduction did not support the hypothesis.