Our data highlight the characteristics of breath sounds in infants with risk factors for asthma. The breath sound analysis may be useful for assessing the airways of infants for asthma development.

We encountered two patients with severe cow's milk allergy who reacted strongly to an injection of methylprednisolone sodium succinate (Sol-Medrol 40 mg Pfizer, Japan). They came to our hospital because of an asthmatic attack or urticaria and were treated with Sol-Medrol 40 mg. After the injection, the allergic reaction was immediate. Skin prick tests demonstrated that the beta-lactoglobulin contaminating the lactose of the drug preparation caused the immediate allergic reaction.

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Background: To evaluate the frequency of wheezing in infants, the presence of wheezing was examined in normal infants using a breath sound analyzer, Methods: A total of 443 infants (age range, 3-24 months) were included in the present study. The existence of audible wheezing and faint wheezing/inaudible wheezing-like noises (FW) was confirmed on chest auscultation and a sound spectrogram. The breath sound parameters of the sound spectrum, frequency limiting 99% of power spectrum (F 99 ), roll-off from 600 to 1,200 Hz (slope) and spectrum curve indices, total area under the curve of dB data (A 3 /A T and B 4 /A T ), and ratio of power and frequency at 50% and 75% of the highest frequency of the power spectrum (RPF 50 and RPF 75 ) were calculated. Using an original Japanese questionnaire, we examined the characteristics of the airway condition of all infants. Results: Finally, a total of 398 infants were analyzed in the present study, and 283 were in good health while 115 had acute respiratory infection (ARI) in the last 7 days. No infants had audible wheezing on auscultation. Three infants without ARI (1.1%) and 10 infants with ARI (8.7%) had FW. In the evaluation of breath sound parameters, there were no marked differences between the infants with and without FW. Conclusions: Using a breath sound analyzer, wheezing and FW were recognized in only a few infants in good health. Infants recognized to have audible wheezing in daily practice may be at risk of developing recurrent wheezing/asthma. A total of 443 infants (mean age, 9.9 months; range, 3-24 months, male : female, 232:211) who attended an infant

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