SCIENTISTS in Southampton are among the first in the world to prove a link between persistent childhood wheezing, the dangers of developing future adult lung problems and toxic cigarette smoke.

Researchers at Southampton General Hospital have unveiled a landmark long-term study into the relationship between the breathing complaint, adult respiratory diseases and smoking.

Now they are warning parents about the importance of seeking medical help for the condition and the dangers of exposing children to harmful cigarette smoke.

It comes as they launch a fresh call for more participants to come forward for a new follow-up study.

Wheezing – characterised by a high-pitched whistling sound occurring due to the narrowing of the airways – is common among children from the age of three but most outgrow it before adolescence.

Hospital experts probed the effects of the breathing complaint in 1,456 patients who were recruited at birth in 1989 in a study in partnership with the David Hide Centre on the Isle of Wight.

The so-called ‘Isle of Wight Cohort’ born on the island were tested at the ages of one, two, four, 10 and 18 and their wheeze recorded on each visit.

Researchers discovered that almost 60 per cent of so called “persistent wheezers” in infancy who continued to the age of ten were still affected at 18 and had significantly impaired lung function.

They revealed that 62 per cent of persistent wheezers suffered from more than one common allergic disease, such as eczema, hayfever or asthma, and that the prevalence of current smoking among the group (44.4 per cent) was almost double that of non-wheezers (24 per cent) at 18.

Persistent wheezers had been exposed to much more passive smoke between the ages of one and 18 (81.7 per cent) than those who had not wheezed by the age of 10 (63.9 per cent), it was found.

Southampton consultant in respiratory medicine and allergy Dr Ramesh Kurukulaaratchy reviewed the patients at the NIHR Southampton Respiratory Biomedical Research Unit with colleague Professor Hasan Arshad.

Dr Kurukulaaratchy said: “This work is really a red flag to recognise and properly manage persistent wheeze as early as possible during childhood in the hope that will lessen the negative impact we are seeing on adult lung health in this group.

“It should act as a prompt to ensure proper medical treatment of persistent early life wheezing and also to encourage people not to expose their children to cigarette smoke since that seems to be relevant to poor ongoing health.

“Without action, these patients will continue into adult life with lower lung function which will contribute to problems such as bronchitis and infections.”

Dr Claire Hodgekiss, an asthma and allergy clinical fellow based at the Isle of Wight centre said: “With smoking – both passive exposure and active – so prevalent among the persistent wheeze patients, we need to explore ways of reducing environmental exposure and educating those affected of the importance of avoiding smoking for their lung health.”

The team has launched a 26-year follow-up of patients in the Isle of Wight Birth Cohort to assess the impact of persistent wheezing later on in adulthood.

Anyone born on the Isle of Wight from January 1989 to February 1990 can call 01983 534 898, text 07710 229 794, to get involved.

Alternatively email IOWStudy@iow.nhs.uk or like the Allergy Reseaech Centre on Facebook.