Wheeze in preschool children and its relation with doctor diagnosed asthma

OBJECTIVE--To describe the characteristics of wheeze and its relation with doctor diagnosed asthma in children aged 5 years and under. DESIGN--Questionnaire survey of population based random sample of children registered on Leicestershire Health Authority's child health index for immunisation; questionnaire completed by parents. SUBJECTS--1650 white children born in 1985 to 1989 who were surveyed in 1990. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Age distribution, severity, precipitants, seasonal characteristics, and diurnal variation of wheeze, family history of asthma/atopy, and their association(s) with doctor diagnosed asthma. RESULTS--There were 1422 replies (86.2%). Two hundred and twenty two (15.6%) were reported to have wheezed and of these 121 (8.6%) had formally been diagnosed as having asthma. More than 80% of the former had recurrences of wheeze and 40% (72) had three or more episodes in the preceding 12 months. Age, number of episodes per year, the severity of shortness of breath with attacks, and precipitants other than colds were the major factors determining the probability that a wheezy child will be diagnosed as having asthma. The data also suggest that despite the strong association of symptom based criteria with the label asthma, asthma was not diagnosed by these same severity criteria in one quarter of cases. CONCLUSIONS--Clinical and physiological follow up studies of children identified as asthmatic by the above criteria during the preschool years should validate or refute the predictive value of these measures of wheeze severity.     

Wheeze detection as a measure of bronchial challenge in young children with cough-variant asthma and with classic asthma

AIM: Tracheal and chest auscultation for wheeze and transcutaneous oximetry have both been suggested as outcome measures of bronchial provocation tests in young children. The aims of this study were to compare the sensitivity of these two techniques as endpoints for methacholine challenge in young children with cough-variant asthma (CVA) and with classic asthma (CA), and to investigate whether oxygen saturation levels at the presence of wheezing differ in these two groups. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of methacholine challenge test data from 4- to 6-year-old children with CVA (n = 41) and from those with CA (n = 53). The challenges used a modified auscultation method that set wheeze detection and/or oxygen desaturation for determining the endpoint. RESULTS: The frequency of wheeze detection at the endpoint was significantly lower than that of oxygen desaturation (46.3% vs. 78.0%) in the CVA group, which contrasted with findings (75.5% vs. 50.9%) in the CA group. Oxygen saturation levels at the presence of wheezing were significantly lower in the CVA group than in the CA group (94.5 +/- 1.5% vs. 95.9 +/- 1.8%, p = 0.006). CONCLUSION: Wheeze detection is a less sensitive outcome measure than oxygen desaturation and is associated with a lower oxygen saturation level in young children with CVA, compared to those with CA.     

Treatment of asthma in preschool children with slow release theophylline.

Fifty two preschool children with asthma were given a recommended regimen of slow release theophylline. There was wide variation in the metabolism of theophylline. The approach adopted gave disappointing results. Nine children did not comply, and 16 stopped treatment because of side effects. Of the remainder, control of asthma was poor in 15 and satisfactory in 12.     

Quality of life in children with undiagnosed and diagnosed asthma

This study describes the impact of undiagnosed and diagnosed asthma on quality of life in schoolchildren aged 7–10 years and their caregivers in a cross-sectional community-based study. Diagnosed asthma was defined as the parents’ confirmation of a physician’s diagnosis of asthma. Undiagnosed asthma was defined by asthma symptoms combined with airway reversibility or bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Quality of life was evaluated in all children with asthma and a sample of healthy controls by the Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire, and by the Paediatric Asthma Caregiver’s Quality of Life Questionnaire. We studied the impact of breathing problems on school absence. Compared with healthy controls, quality of life scores among children and their caregivers were lower if the child had asthma (P < 0.05), with lowest scores in diagnosed asthma (P < 0.05 compared with undiagnosed asthma). Children with asthma reported more school absence (P < 0.05), with highest absence rate in those with diagnosed asthma. In conclusion, both undiagnosed and diagnosed asthma have a significant impact on the quality of life of both children and their caregivers.     

Association between obesity and asthma in Japanese preschool children

Obesity may increase the risk of subsequent asthma. We have previously reported that there is a clear association between obesity and asthma in Japanese school-aged children. To evaluate whether a similar association exists in younger children, a nationwide cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey was performed focusing on children aged 4-5 yr. A child who had experienced wheezing during the past 12 months and had ever been diagnosed with asthma by a physician was defined as having current asthma. Overweight and underweight were defined as BMI ≥90th percentile and ≤10th percentile, respectively, according to the reference values for Japanese children from 1978 to 1981. After excluding 2547 children because of incomplete data, 34,699 children were analyzed. Current asthma was significantly more prevalent in overweight children compared with underweight and normal weight children (13.2% for overweight vs. 10.5% for underweight and 11.1% for normal weight; both p < 0.001). Even after adjusting for other variables, such as gender, other coexisting allergic diseases, and parental history of asthma, there was an association between overweight and current asthma (adjusted odds ratio: 1.23, 95% CI: 1.10-1.38, p < 0.001). Even in preschool children, obesity is already associated with asthma, and there was no gender effect on this association. Physicians should consider the impact of obesity when managing asthma in younger children.     

Dose-response relationship of inhaled metaproterenol sulfate in preschool children with mild asthma

The dose-response relationship of single doses of nebulized metaproterenol sulfate 5% inhalant solution was evaluated by placebo-controlled, parallel-group study of 30 children, aged 3 to 6 years old, with stable asthma. Total respiratory resistance, the primary variable used to assess response, was measured by the forced oscillation method for a period of 6 hours from the start of inhalation. When comparisons were made between metaproterenol sulfate and saline, only 0.01 and 0.02 mL/kg showed significant bronchodilation (P less than .05) in percent change from baseline and area under the curve. However, no significant differences were seen between these doses. Moreover, the effect was sustained for 3 hours with both higher doses. Minimal side effects were observed. Metaproterenol sulfate 5% inhalant solution at a dose of 0.01 mL/kg seems to be optimal to elicit significant and sustained bronchodilatory response in preschool children with mild asthma.     

Hepatitis B virus infection and its transmission in preschool children.

In the present study, 2.5% of 367 preschool children has HBsAg positivity. Of 11 mothers who were HBsAg positive during the third trimester of pregnancy, 4 had babies (36.4%) who developed HBsAg positivity by 2.5-3 months of age (vertical transmission). Two babies born of HBsAg negative mothers, with history of jaundice during first trimester, were HBsAg negative. All the relatives of HBsAg positive cases screened were negative for HBsAg.     

Skin test reactivity to molds in pre-school children with newly diagnosed asthma

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of sensitization to molds and to house dust mites (HDM) in pre-school children with newly-diagnosed asthma. METHODS: From 1996 to 2000, 122 children 1 to 6 years of age with fresh asthma treated in the Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland, were recruited in the study; 94% attended. Skin prick tests were performed to common inhalant allergens and to 10 molds. The homes were surveyed for moisture damage. RESULTS: A majority of the houses had signs of dampness and moisture. One-third of the children reacted to inhalant allergens. There were 11 positive reactions to molds in five children who all reacted to at least one animal dander or seasonal pollen. Aspergillus fumigatus, Botrytis cinerea, and Cladosporium herbarum were the most common mold allergens. There were only two children with positive reactions to HDM, and none of them reacted to molds. No associations were found between the presence or degree of moisture problems at home and mold or HDM allergy. CONCLUSION: Sensitization to molds seems to play only a minor role in pre-school children with newly-diagnosed asthma in a northern climate where the incidences of mold and HDM allergies are rather low.     

Nebulised beclomethasone dipropionate in preschool asthma.

Twenty nine young children with severe recurrent asthma were given nebulised beclomethasone dipropionate or normal saline in a double blind manner over a six month period. Progress was monitored using diary score cards. Those receiving beclomethasone had lower symptom scores, had more symptom free days, and required less additional treatment with bronchodilator agents. The code needed to be broken more frequently if normal saline was used. Over the study period height and weight increases in the two groups were similar, and no serious side effects were noted.     

No effect of fluticasone propionate on linear growth in preschool children with asthma

Background: Eighty percent of asthmatic children develop asthma symptoms by the age of 5 years. Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), depending on dosage, may cause linear growth reduction and adrenal gland suppression. There are few studies about linear growth of preschool children with asthma. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether there is any effect of fluticasone propionate (FP) on linear growth and adrenal gland function. Methods: Twenty‐eight children aged 18–52 months with persistent asthma receiving ICS FP 100–200 µg daily were studied for 1 year. Patients were divided into two groups according to clinical parameters: well (group 1) and poorly controlled (group 2). Height was measured every 3 months and expressed as height standard deviation score (SDS). Cumulative dose of FP expressed in mg was calculated for every patient. Early morning levels of serum adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol were assessed at the beginning and at the end of the study. Results: Patients took FP for an average of 11 months in group 1 and 16 months in group 2, which was not statistically significantly different. At the end of the study height SDS difference was ?0.0143 in group 1 and ?0.2000 in group 2, which was not statistically significantly different (t= 0.6072, P= 0.5489). There was also no statistically significant difference for average cortisol (P= 0.4381) or ACTH (P= 0.5845) concentration at the end of the study. Conclusion: FP 100–200 µg daily had no effect on linear growth or on the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal gland axis but further follow up is necessary.     

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??Objective To explore the change of exhaled nitric oxide ??eNO?? in children from community and its importance in asthma management. Methods The study was conducted from October 2011 to December 2011. Totally 133 non-asthmatic children and 94 asthmatic children aged 7~12 years old from elementary schools in Beijing Xicheng District were included in the study. The eNO?? skin prick test ??SPT???? lung function and physical examination were carried out and information of medical history was collected in all children. The eNO level between non-asthmatic children and asthmatic children?? and its association with atopy?? rhinitis?? lung function and asthma control were analyzed. Results eNO levels of non-asthmatic children and asthmatic children were 11.63±1.88 ppb?? and 19.68±2.31 ppb respectively and the difference between them was statistically significant ??P<0.01??. In non-asthmatic children?? the level of eNO in children with rhinitis was significantly higher than in children without rhinitis ???17.49±2.02??×10-9 vs. ??10.42±1.76??×10-9?? P<0.01?? and eNO level in atopic children was higher than non-atopic children ???23.06±2.18??×10-9 vs. ??9.60±1.66??×10-9?? P<0.01??. In asthmatic children?? the difference in eNO level was not significant in children with rhinitis and without rhinitis ???19.58±2.34??×10-9 vs. ??20.09±2.25??×10-9??? but the eNO levels in atopic children ??23.06±2.18??×10-9 was significantly higher than non-atopic children ???8.75±1.86??×10-9?? P<0.01??. The level of eNO of uncontrolled asthmatic children was significantly higher than controlled asthmatic children ???25.09±2.31??×10-9 vs. ??17.21±2.22??×10-9?? P<0.05??. There was no significant difference in eNO level between children who used and those who did not use inhaled corticosteroid. The eNO level was not related to lung function parameters either in non-asthmatic or in asthmatic children. Conclusion The eNO level increases significantly in children with asthma or rhinitis and is associated with asthma control status. Atopy is an important factor on eNO level as well. Measuring eNO level would help improve the diagnosis of asthma and atopy and management of asthma and rhinitis in children from community.     

Incentive device improves spacer technique but not clinical outcome in preschool children with asthma

Aim: To investigate the influence of an incentive device, the Funhaler, on spacer technique and symptom control in young children with asthma and recurrent wheeze. Methods: Randomised controlled trial where 132 2–6 year old asthmatic children received regular inhaled fluticasone through Aerochamber Plus, or Funhaler. The setting was a research clinic at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Perth, Australia. Subjects were followed up for a year. The main outcome measure was asthma symptoms. Proficiency in spacer technique was measured as salbutamol inhaled from spacer onto filter. Quality of life was measured every three months. Groups were compared in terms of spacer technique, symptoms and quality of life. The relationship between spacer technique and clinical outcome was examined. Results: There was no difference between Funhaler and Aerochamber groups in wheeze free days, cough free days, bronchodilator free days or quality of life (P = 0.90, 0.87, 0.74 and 0.11 respectively). Spacer technique was better in the Funhaler group (P = 0.05), particularly in subjects younger than 4 years of age (P = 0.002). Drug dose on filter (as the mean of five 100 mg doses) ranged from zero to 136 mg. Conclusions: Use of Funhaler incentive device does not improve clinical outcome, but improves spacer technique in children younger than 4 years. Variability in drug delivery is large in young children using pressurised metered dose inhalers and spacers.     

哮喘儿童血肾上腺髓质素浓度测定及临床意义

目的研究哮喘患儿急性发作期血浆肾上腺髓质素(ADM)浓度及临床意义。方法采用放射免疫分析法检测哮喘患儿急性发作期和临床缓解期血浆ADM水平;同时应用微粒子化学发光免疫分析系统检测血清总IgE。结果急性发作期血浆ADM的含量均明显高于临床缓解期和对照组(P<0.01);临床缓解期血浆中ADM的含量稍高于对照组,但无显著性差异(P>0.05)。急性发作期和临床缓解期的血清总IgE无显著性差异(t=0.232;P>0.05)。结论ADM可能参与了儿童哮喘的急性发作和炎性反应过程,与IgE介导的变态反应没有相关性。