Asthma and wheezy bronchitis in children

Abstract

Twice as many boys,as girls are prone to wheeze (15-3% compared with 7%). This study examines the possible immunological basis for this phenomenon. There were 1064 children in this survey. The family of each wheezy child was indexed, and a control sampleof families was selected. At least 85% of the study population were skin tested for Type I allergic reactions. An interval survey of values for FEV,, FVC and PEFR against height was completed.Of 118 wheezy subjects there were 83/542 boys and 35/522 girls. Single and multiple sensitivity, the capacity to react to two or more major allergens, is examined. Of the child asthmatics, significani differences from controls emerge for pollens, foods and the house dust mite. These difTerences are borne out with multiple sensitivity. (/*>OOOI.) Ofthe brothers and sisters of asthmalics, only the sisters show differences from controls. This is true for grass pollen, cow's milk and the house dust mile, and also to a highly significant degree for multiple sensitivity (/'>0001). When the incidence of multiple sensitivity is expressed for all children in the asthma group, that is, cases and their siblings, the sex difference is not demonstrable. The mothers (A'>005) and fathers (P>O-Ol), of asthmatics also differ from control parents in respect of skin sensitivity.If multiple sensitivity Is equated with atopy, it may not be the main determinant of the capacity to wheeze, and thus of the sex difference.The mean curve for interval PEFR for asthmatic children was significantly lower than that of control children and ofthe brothers and sisters of asthmatics.

Neurotic illness in the families of children with asthma and wheezy bronchitis: a general practice population study

“…Immunological status may be one of these shared differences. In an associated study (Davis, 1976), the author has shown that the mothers and fathers of asthmatic children differ from controls in atopic status: 20 % of the parents of asthmatics demonstrated multiple sensitivity on skin testing, compared with 7 % of controls. Of the asthmatic children, 49% of boys and 42% of girls were atopic.…”

“…As part of the author's work (Davis, 1976), the whole population of index families was subjected to a skin prick testing routine to identify objectively the atopic subjects. Thus the cases male and female, their siblings and their parents were all screened.…”

Allergy and Wheezy Children

“…This is merely of use in making me more suspicious that any allergy may be of importance in causing the patient's disease. Davis (1976) in his excellent studies on children favours multiple positivity to more than one group of allergens to define atopy. I would agree that such a finding is very significant, but even one positive prick test has been shown to be associated with significantly higher levels of total serum IgE (D'Souza & Davies, 1977).…”