Wheezing in Preschool Children and Total IgE Levels: A Birth Cohort Study.

Objectives: To evaluate association between total IgE levels and wheezing in preschool children from India.

Methods: Data were collected in a prospective birth cohort study related to wheezing till three years of age. Total IgE was measured at enrolment, at one year and two years of age and correlated with wheezing episodes.

Results: A total of 310 (167 boys) children were enrolled. Total IgE levels increased with age (P<0.001). Overall, 101 (32.6%) children had 182 episodes of wheezing. The median (IQR) total IgE levels in children with wheezing and without wheezing were similar at one year [42.1 (12.7, 93.5) vs 41.9 (17.1, 96.7) kU/L; P=0.39] and two years of age [62.8 (32.4, 212.0) vs 75 (25.8, 173.0) kU/L, P=0.92).

Conclusion: Total IgE levels increased with age and were not different in preschool children with and without wheezing.