Total immunoglobulin E in infant bronchiolitis and risk of developing asthma

Bronchiolitis is the leading cause of infant hospitalization in the United States.1 In addition to the acute morbidity, bronchiolitis also puts patients at increased risk for subsequent morbidity. Indeed, approximately 30% of infants hospitalized with bronchiolitis (severe bronchiolitis) develop recurrent wheezing and asthma.1 Yet, the underlying mechanisms of the bronchiolitis-asthma link remain unclear.