Flexible bronchoscopy as a valuable tool in the evaluation of persistent wheezing in children.

Background: Persistent wheezing is a common problem in early childhood and leads to a diagnostic dilemma, excessive investigations, drug administration and additional cost.

Objective: To determine the efficacy and the safety of FOB in children with persistent wheezing despite bronchodilator and inhaled steroid therapy.

Methods: Patients with persistent wheezing that lasted at least 6 weeks and did not respond to bronchodilator and inhaled steroid therapy and to whom flexible bronchoscopy was performed were included to the study.