Effects of wheezing in early childhood in the development of allergic rhinitis in later years

BACKGROUND: Studies on the long-term effects of wheezing in infancy have particularly focused on asthma. There isn't adequate information about the effects of wheezing in the development of allergic rhinitis in later years. OBJECTIVE: In this study, children with wheezing in the first year of life were investigated in terms of allergic rhinitis after five years of age. METHODS: The study consisted of children with early-transient wheezing or persistent wheezing. The study groups were evaluated in terms of allergic rhinitis with physical examination and a questionnaire translated from International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Children (ISAAC) questionnaire after five years of age. RESULTS: The study included 50 children; 23 (46%) had early-transient wheezing and 27 (54%) had persistent wheezing. The symptoms of allergic rhinitis were reported in 13 (48%) of children with persistent wheezing but in none of children with early-transient wheezing (p < 0.05). Skin prick tests showed positive results in 4.3% of children with early-transient wheezing and in 48.1% of children with persistent wheezing (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Persistent wheezing, but not early transient wheezing seems to be a risk factor in the development of allergic rhinitis in children after five years of age.