A STUDY OF ALLERGOLOGICAL EXAMINATION IN INFANTS AND YOUNG CHILDREN AT FIRST EXPIRATORY WHEEZING EPISODE

Abstract

We investigated whether, in 117 infants and young children who experienced their first episode of wheezing, abnormal findings of allergological examination is present and can predict the development of asthma. The patients showed the significantly large number of peripheral eosinophils and the significantly high serum ECP and total IgE levels, as compared to those in controls. Specific IgE antibody was also positive at a high frequency in these patients. During the follow-up period of one year and 9 months on average, the incidence of wheezing episodes were significantly higher in the patients with high levels of ECP, total IgE and specific IgE in serum than in those with normal levels of these parameters. These results suggest that it is significant to conduct allergological examination even in infants and young children, who have had wheezing episode for the first time, for the purpose of providing against the subsequent occurrence of asthma.