Recurrent Wheezing Episodes Following Parainfluenza Virus Bronchiolitis-Reply

In Reply.—Dr Nigro and colleagues report the risk of recurrent wheezing following PV bronchiolitis to be 18.2%, which is substantially lower than the percentage that we reported. Full details of the methodology in Nigro and colleagues' study are not given, although the two studies quite obviously differ in some aspects. Our study was a prospective evaluation starting from the time of the original episode of bronchiolitis and continued through 4 years of age. Follow-up was made by repeated telephone contact and review of medical records at the various medical care areas visited by study subjects. Dr Nigro and colleagues' study involves a retrospective review of events in which the mean duration of follow-up was 13.3 years (range, 5.6 to 21.3 years). Many children experience wheezing in the first two years of life and then cease to have episodes thereafter.¹ It is unclear how reliable the parents' recall of