Prevalence and phenotypes of wheezing in hospitalized child

Wheezing is quite common in childhood. Developed countries report prevalence between 20% and 30%, with high recurrence. The definition of phenotypes and the understanding of etiological factors are fundamental for prevention and treatment strategies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and the main wheezing phenotypes in the hospitalized child. Descriptive observational study conducted in a public hospital on the outskirts of São Paulo in 2018. The medical records of children who were hospitalized in pediatric units with wheezing symptoms were excluded, and those whose parents did not consent and who had failures in the medical records were excluded. Approval of the research ethics committee No. 2,913,139. 787 children were hospitalized, 210 (26.7%) with wheezing symptoms. Eighty-six children were excluded, totaling a sample of 124 individuals. The average age was 2.8 ± 3.1 years and most were infants (51.2%). The phenotypes found were: transient wheezing (47.2%), non-atopic wheezing (37.4%) and persistent wheezing (15.4%). It was found that the prevalence of wheezing in 2018 was high and the main phenotypes were transient wheezing and nonatopic wheezing.