All issues > Volume 35(2); 1992

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1992;35(2):201-210. Published online February 15, 1992.

A Clinical Study of the Effect of Early(<12 Months) Versus Late(12-24 Months) Onset in Infantile Asthma

Jae Won JW OH¹, Ji Yeon JY Lim¹, Ha Baik HB Lee¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea

Abstract

Asthma in infancy can be confused with a variety of airway diseases, because not all that wheezes is asthma and controversy exists as to the role of age of asthma onset in childhood asthma. This study was designed to examine the role of age and predictive capacity of elevated serum IgE for early asthma doset. We compiled data of asthmatics (n=56) less than 24 months of age retrospectively in a four-year period. Early onset asthmatics (n=35) tended to be more likely to have been ever hospitakized for chest condition (74.3%), and have at least one positive prick skin test to food allergens (Cow's milk 35.3%, Egg 23.8%, Soybean 22.2%). Late onset asthmatics (n=21) tended to have at least one positive prick allergen skin test to food as well as inhalant (D. pteronyssinus and D.farinae 28.6%, House dust 20.0%) and report good or fair responsiveness to bronchodilator therapy and more outgrowing features (moderate asthma : 59.6%). We conclude that younger age at onset and prolonged poor control of asthma aer possible risk factors in development of severe asthma.

Keywords :Infantile Asthma, Allergy