Meconium aspiration syndrome, parental atopy and asthma symptoms in children under two years old.

Objective: To determine the association among meconium aspiration syndrome, parental atopy and asthma symptoms in children younger than two years.

Material And Methods: One hundred thirty six children who had suffered meconium aspiration syndrome were followed from birth to they were two years old. CONTROL GROUP included 136 healthy children without meconium aspiration syndrome.

Results: Group of children with meconium aspiration syndrome: The average hospital stay in neonatal intensive care unit was of 5.91 +/- 4.44 days and were given 65.5 +/- 16.6 hours of oxygen. Prevalence of asthma symptoms during the last year was of 41.2%; 35.7% had family history of allergies (p = NS). The average age at the beginning of asthma symptoms was of 12.64 +/- 6.96 months; 78.6% of children were male.

Control Group: 30.9% had wheezing episodes during the last 12 months; 28.6% were male; 38.1% had family history of allergies (p = NS). The average age at the beginning of asthma symptoms was of 15.57 +/- 6.05 months.

Conclusion: Aspiration of meconium seems to be an important risk factor of the early beginning of asthma symptoms in children younger than two years. Data shows that the prevalence of asthma symptoms was higher in case group than in control group. Asthma symptoms risk increases in children with aspiration meconium syndrome and family background of allergies.