ASTHMA PHENOTYPES - WHEEZY INFANTS AND WHEEZY CHILDREN

The relationship between wheezing illnesses in infancy and the develop ment of asthma later in life has been the matter of considerable resea rch and scientific interest for the last 50 years. Analysis of the dif ferent wheezing phenotypes in early life and of the relation between t hese phenotypes and the subsequent development of persistent asthma-li ke symptoms clearly indicate the complexity of the different forms of airway obstruction that may occur during childhood. This article revie ws immune response to viruses and wheezing in infancy, the role of ear ly allergies and of early allergic sensitization, transient, and infan t wheezing.