Perceived temperamental characteristics and regulation of physiological stress: a study of wheezy babies.

Explored prospectively were the temperamental dimensions involved in the modulation of wheeziness in infancy. Subjects were 69 infants, 4 to 8 months old, referred to the emergency room because of wheeziness, and a control group of 30 infants, 4 to 8 months old, referred to the emergency room because of an acute illness other than wheeziness. Infant respiratory clinical score for wheeziness was registered and the Revised Infant Temperament Questionnaire and a demographic questionnaire were completed. Fourteen months later the recurrence of wheeziness attacks--that is, asthma--was investigated. Maternal reports of infant's rhythmicity significantly improved the prediction of asthma among wheezy babies; wheezy babies were perceived as significantly less active than nonwheezy babies.