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Background It is well known that bronchiolitis is associated to wheezing and asthma. Aim To evaluate the presence and the risk for atopy and asthma in children 5 years after bronchiolitis. Methods From October 2004 to May 2010, we studied 158 children (81 M, median age 5.6) hospitalized for bronchiolitis at the Paediatric Emergency Department “Sapienza” University of Rome. Demographic and clinical datawere obtained from each infant together withnasopharyngeal washing for the detection of 14 respiratory viruses at admission in the hospital. Every 12 months after discharge, one of the authors interviewed parents of all infants using a standardized telephone procedure with structured questionnaire seeking information on wheezing. At 5 years, each child underwent skin prick test. Results At 5 years follow-up, 43(27.2%) children had positive prick tests: 13(30%) have asthma, 19(44%) had pre-school wheezing and 11(26%) have no clinical symptoms. Family history of asthma and >400 blood eosinophils/mm3(>400 E) during bronchiolitis were more frequent in atopic vs non atopic children (32.6%vs17.5%, p=0.035; 16.3%vs3.5%, p=0.01, respectively). Bronchiolitis from RV was more frequent in children who have developed atopy comparing to non-atopic children(14%vs7.8%,p=ns). Among atopic children, children with asthma had more frequently >400 E and bronchiolitis from RV comparing to children who had preschool wheezing and without symptoms(38.5%vs10.5%vs0,p=0.026; 23.1%vs10.5%vs9.1%, p:ns). Conclusions In children with bronchiolitis, blood eosinophils >400/mm 3 and RV infections may predict the occurrence of atopic asthma after 5 years of follow up.

Introduction: Bovavirus(HBoV) was identified for the first time in 2005, however its role as a respiratory pathogen has not been fulfilled yet. Our aim was to describe clinical and serological characteristics of hospitalized children with HBoV and its effect on follow-up. Methods: We restrospectively reviewed data from 44 children(21 males median age 149days, age range:15-859days) in which HBoV1 was detected from nasopharyngeal washing, using a real-time PCR. All children were hospitalized for acute respiratory symptoms at the Paediatric Department, “Sapienza” University of Rome. One year after discharge, an interview was performed seeking information on recurrent wheezing. Results: A single virus was detected in a half of samples, and in an another half a co-infection with other viruses was observed(16 HBoV+RSV, 2 RV+HBoV, 1 HBoV+Para1,1 MPV+HBoV, 1 Adeno+RV+HBoV,1 RSV+RV+HBoV). 32(72.7%)children had bronchiolitis, 6(13.6%) acute wheezing, 2(4,5%) pneumonia, 2(4,5%)upper respiratory tract infection and 2(4,5%)whooping cough. 33 patients performed a Chest X-Ray:10(30,3%)were normal, 23(69,7%)showed a consolidation. 39(98,6%) children had one or more siblings, 10(22,7%) presented a family history positive for asthma, and 10(22,7%) for atopy. After 12 months from the hospitalization 20/34(58,8%) presented recurrent wheezing. No differences were observed in terms of sex, positive family history for atopy and/or asthma, clinical presentation, consolidation on Chest X-Ray, and laboratory findings between children HBoV alone vs co-infection. Conclusion: HBoV can be detected from nasopharyngeal samples of children affected by acute respiratory tract infection, with no differences between children HBoV alone vs co-infection.