Abstract:

Approach to Wheezy Infant In Primary Care The term wheezy infant is a clinical diagnosis, describing the wheeze in child that lasts longer than a month, and/or three or more recurrent wheezing attacks and can be developed many of intrapulmonary or extra pulmonary reasons. Wheezing is one of the most common symptoms for children. Various studies indicate that 10-15% of the infants and 25% of the children under five years of age undergo at least once a respiratory disease associated with wheezing. The prevalence of the wheezing for children under five years old is between 15-32% in the developed countries. This ratio had been found as 15.1% in Turkey according to a research that included 46.813 children. Wheezing is more common in children than adults. This difference can be explained by the narrower airways, higher resistance exposure to air, insufficient chest expandability, lack of elastic tissue and collaterals in children. Wheezy children compose quite a large portion of the sick children seen in primary care. For this reason, the family physicians should be qualified to perform the differential diagnoses for wheezing, organize the treatment and manage the process by including consultation and referral if necessary. Especially infants with wheeze under two months, persistent wheeze, significant respiratory distress, growth retardation, children with wheezing accompanied by systemic signs should be directed to a specialist. During the disease course often a chronic disease such as asthma may develop and parents’ anxiety may change. The primary care physician who gives continuous, comprehensive, up-to-date services have a very important role to eliminate this anxiety and to meet the educational necessities related to parents’ knowledge, skills and attitudes toward the illnesses.

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