Wheezing in respiratory disorders
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Wheezing as a Symptom in Respiratory Disorders
Wheezing is a high-pitched whistling sound during breathing, commonly associated with respiratory disorders such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) 42. It is a key symptom that signals airway obstruction or inflammation and is especially important for early diagnosis and management of these conditions 124.
Wheezing in Asthma and COPD
Asthma is characterized by recurrent episodes of wheezing, cough, and respiratory distress, often triggered by inflammation and narrowing of the airways. These episodes can occur at any age, but are particularly common in children and can present as recurrent wheezing in infants and preschoolers 49. COPD, another major respiratory disorder, also frequently presents with wheezing, and monitoring this symptom is crucial for managing disease progression .
Viral Infections and Wheezing in Children
Viral infections are a major cause of wheezing in children. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and rhinovirus are particularly important triggers for wheezing episodes in infants and young children 5679+1 MORE. RSV infection in infants significantly increases the risk of developing wheezing and recurrent wheezing illnesses later in childhood . However, while RSV infection is associated with wheezing, evidence does not strongly support that preventing RSV infection will reduce the risk of chronic wheezing illnesses such as asthma .
Wheezing Phenotypes and Risk of Asthma
Not all children who wheeze will develop asthma. Wheezing in early life can have different patterns, and only a subset of children with recurrent wheezing will go on to develop asthma as they grow older 59. Identifying which children are at higher risk for persistent wheezing or asthma is important for early intervention and management .
Wheezing Beyond Asthma and COPD
While wheezing is most commonly linked to asthma and COPD, it can also occur in other conditions, such as pulmonary embolism. This highlights the importance of thorough clinical evaluation, as not all cases of wheezing are due to common airway diseases .
Advances in Wheeze Detection and Monitoring
Traditional lung auscultation for detecting wheezing is subjective and can be influenced by environmental factors. Recent advances in technology, such as deep learning and automated sound analysis, have improved the accuracy and reliability of wheeze detection. These methods use features like the tonality index and Mel-frequency cepstral coefficients (MFCCs) to distinguish wheezing from normal respiratory sounds, enabling better long-term monitoring and management of respiratory diseases 12.
Conclusion
Wheezing is a common and important symptom in a range of respiratory disorders, especially in children. It is most often associated with asthma, COPD, and viral infections, but can also signal other underlying conditions. Advances in automated detection and a better understanding of wheezing phenotypes are improving diagnosis and management, ultimately leading to better patient outcomes 1245+5 MORE.
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Most relevant research papers on this topic
Evaluation of features for classification of wheezes and normal respiratory sounds
Tonality index, third MFCC coefficient, and first coefficient of a 6th order LPC are the best features for automatic identification of wheezing sounds during breathing, aiding in early detection of respiratory diseases.
Viral and Non-viral Episodes of Wheezing in Early Life and the Development of Asthma and Respiratory Phenotypes Among Urban Children
Non-viral wheezing episodes in early life are frequently associated with asthma development in urban children, with rhinovirus wheezing illnesses having the greatest impact on respiratory phenotype outcome.
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