INFANT ASTHMA

Objectives: To describe the characteristics of infant asthma and to identify factors for the persistence of infant asthma into school age. Methods:This was a retrospective descriptive analytical study that included 115 children diagnosed with infant asthma. We identified factors predictive of asthma persistence at school age by univariate and multivariate statistical analysis using logistic regression. Results: The diagnosis of asthma was made on average at 18.83 ± 8.3 months of age. Two groups were identified: transient wheezers S- (n=34/29.6%) and persistent wheezers S+ (n=81/70.4%). Statistical analysis identified three independent predictors of persistence: personal atopy (p=0.002; ORaj=25.7 [3.4 -193.3]) modified asthma predictive index (modified API) (p=0.027; OR=10.188 [1.3-79.5]) and mean number of hospitalizations for asthma attacks (p=0.013; ORaj=0.67 [0.08 -0.560]). Conclusion: The course of asthma in infants is highly variable. Several factors related to its persistence into school age were identified.