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Recurrent Wheezing in Children Linked to Silent Viral Infections

New Clinical Syndrome Discovered at UVA School of Medicine

22% of Children with Recurrent Wheeze Found to Have Undetected Lung Infections

Nearly a quarter of children with recurrent wheezing have silent lung infections, according to a new study from UVA School of Medicine researchers. The discovery of this novel clinical syndrome could lead to new treatments for children with recurrent wheeze, a common respiratory condition that can be a major source of discomfort and distress.

“We were surprised to find that so many children with recurrent wheezing have these silent lung infections,” said lead researcher Dr. Jonathan Davis, an assistant professor of pediatrics at UVA. “These infections are not visible on chest X-rays or other standard tests, so they are often missed by doctors.”

Davis and his team screened more than 800 children and teens with severe wheezing. They found that 22 of them (22%) had undetected lung infections. These infections were caused by a variety of viruses, including rhinovirus, influenza, and parainfluenza.

“These findings suggest that viral infections may play a more significant role in recurrent wheezing than we previously thought,” Davis said. “This could lead to new treatments for recurrent wheeze that target these viruses.”

The study was published in the journal Pediatric Pulmonology. For more Local News from WVIR…