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.