Author´s informationAuthor: M.Sc Hesli de Sousa Holanda. Affiliation: Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, UFRN, Natal, RN, Brazil. Address: Lagoa Nova University Campus. Postal code 59078900, Natal/RN. Brazil. Tel.: +55 (84) 99819-7539. Email: [email protected]. ORCID:https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2623-1945Author: Ph.D Thayla Amorim Santino. Affiliation: State University of Paraíba, UEPB, Campina Grande, PB, Brazil. Address: Baraúnas St., 351, University Neighborhood. Postal code: 58429500, Campina Grande/ PB. Brazil. Tel.: +55 (83) 99942-4386. Email: [email protected]. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5514-762XAuthor: B.sc Maria Clara Almeida Jácome. Affiliation: Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, UFRN, Natal, RN, Brazil. Address: Lagoa Nova University Campus. Postal code 59078900, Natal/RN. Brazil. Tel.: +55 (84) 99621-2690. Email: [email protected]. ORCID: https://orcid.org/.0000-0002-4651-3560Author: B.sc Juliana Cirilo Soares de Souza. Affiliation: Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, UFRN, Natal, RN, Brazil. Address: Lagoa Nova University Campus. Postal code 59078900, Natal/RN. Brazil. Tel.: +55 (84) 99924-1048. Email: [email protected]. ORCID: https://orcid.org0000-0001-6486-2329Author: M.sc Joubert Vitor de Souto Barbosa. Affiliation: Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, UFRN, Natal, RN, Brazil. Address: Lagoa Nova University Campus. Postal code 59078900, Natal/RN. Brazil. Tel.: +55 (83) 99910 1789. Email: [email protected] . ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4762-0672Author: Ph.D Sande O. Okelo. Affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA. Email: [email protected]: Ph.D Cecília M. Patino. Affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA. Email: [email protected]. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5742-2157Author: M.sc Cleia Teixeira do Amaral. Affiliation: Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, UFRN, Natal, RN, Brazil. Address: Lagoa Nova University Campus. Postal code 59078900, Natal/RN. Brazil. Email: [email protected]. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6583-9921.Author: Ph.D João Carlos Alchieri. Affiliation: Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, UFRN, Natal, RN, Brazil. Address: Lagoa Nova University Campus. Postal code 59078900, Natal/RN. Brazil. Email: [email protected]. ORCID:https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4150-8519.Corresponding author: Ph.D Karla Morganna Pereira Pinto de Mendonça. Affiliation: Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, UFRN, Natal, RN, Brazil. Address: Lagoa Nova University Campus. Postal code 59078900, Natal/RN. Brazil. Tel.: +55 (84) 99128-1772. Email:[email protected] . ORCID:https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5734-3707

Background : We aimed to investigate food allergen sensitization as a prognostic factor of new onset wheezing episodes as well as of wheezing severity during follow up in young children with recurrent wheezing. Our secondary aim was to compare serum levels of Club Cell-16 (CC-16) and surfactant protein D (SP-D) among wheezing children with and without food allergen sensitization as potential pathogenetic indicators of the association between food allergen sensitivity and wheezing. Methods : This was a prospective cohort study among children with recurrent wheezing; specific-IgE to five common foods allergens was assessed at baseline and children were followed-up for one year for new onset wheezing episodes. Baseline wheezing severity score, CC-16 and SP-D levels were measured. Results : We enrolled 295 children among which 44 were food specific IgE (Fx5) (+). Poisson regression analysis with food allergen sensitivity, age and wheezing score at presentation revealed that Fx5 positivity changed yearly frequency of wheeze by a factor of 1.66 (p=0.05, 95%CI: (0.99-2.75)). Age changed the yearly frequency of wheeze by a factor of 0.95 (p=0.005, 95%CI: (0.92-0.99)). One-point change in wheezing score at presentation changed the wheezing frequency in the following year by a factor of 1.11 (p=0.005, 95%CI: (0.67-1.99)). Levels of CC-16 and SP-D were not significantly different between the two groups (p=0.679 and p=0.988). Conclusion : Food allergen sensitization defined as serum specific IgE positivity irrespective of food associated clinical allergy findings is associated with worse prognosis of wheezing in children.