Undiagnosed and untreated wheezing in a cohort of adolescents with a family history of allergic disease.

Wheezing is a common symptom among adolescents. A cross-sectional survey was undertaken of a prospective cohort of teenagers with a close family history of allergy. The results demonstrate the prevalence of wheezing, the diagnosis of asthma, and the treatment of symptoms in this group. The findings suggest that undiagnosed and inadequately or untreated wheezing is as common among adolescents with a family history of allergic disease as in the general adolescent population, and can be associated with severe symptoms.