Pneumonia in the first 2 years of life, and asthma in preschool-age children

Background: The relationship between viral bronchiolitis in early infancy and subsequent wheezing and asthma has been well established. The aim of the present cross-sectional study was to test the hypothesis that pneumonia severe enough to require hospitalization during the first 2 years of life could also be associated with asthma or asthma-like symptoms in pre-school children. Methods: Structured interviews were conducted with parents of children who were classified as exposed (n = 36) or non-exposed (n = 84), based on whether they were hospitalized with radiologically confirmed pneumonia during the first 2 years of life. The main outcomes were ever physician-diagnosed asthma, asthma-like symptoms and use of anti-asthmatic medications during the last 2 months and during the last 12 months. Results: The prevalence of ever physician-diagnosed asthma was higher in the exposed group compared with the non-exposed group (41.6% vs 22.6%, P = 0.01), with an adjusted prevalence ratio of 2.03 (95% confidence interval: 1.10-3.62). The exposed group had a trend toward a higher prevalence of asthma-like symptoms and use of anti-asthmatic medications during the last 2 months and during the last 12 months. Conclusions: Radiologically confirmed pneumonia in the first 2 years of life may be associated with asthma or asthma-like symptoms in pre-school children.