Introduction
Respiratory problems, such as wheezing and cough, are a common
complication of preterm birth [1]. Numerous studies have identified
environmental, host, and treatment factors associate with both increased
and decreased risk of wheezing in preterm infants and children after
discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Although
wheezing in preterm children overlaps with pediatric asthma, it is clear
that mechanisms of wheezing other than asthma contribute to this
problem. Despite the large volume of data demonstrating the substantial
morbidity imposed on preterm children by wheezing, there is a paucity of
high-quality evidence to guide the treatment and prevention of wheezing
in preterm children with and without bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD).
In this article, we will review the epidemiology and pathophysiology of
wheezing in preterm infants and children and the data on treatment in
this patient population.