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Asthma In Children (asthma + in_children)
Selected AbstractsProspective Evaluation of Two Clinical Scores for Acute Asthma in Children 18 Months to 7 Years of AgeACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 6 2010FRCPC, Serge Gouin MDCM Abstract Objectives:, The objective was to evaluate the discriminatory ability of two clinical asthma scores, the Preschool Respiratory Assessment Measure (PRAM) and the Pediatric Asthma Severity Score (PASS), during an asthma exacerbation. Methods:, This was a prospective cohort study in an academic pediatric emergency department (ED; 60,000 visits/year) conducted from March 2006 to October 2007. All patients 18 months to 7 years of age who presented for an asthma exacerbation were eligible. The primary outcome was a length of stay (LOS) of >6 hours in the ED or admission to the hospital. Clinical findings and components of the PRAM and the PASS were assessed by a respiratory therapist (RT) at the start of the ED visit and after 90 minutes of treatment. Results:, During the study period, 3,845 patients were seen in the ED for an asthma exacerbation. Of these, 291 were approached to participate, and eight refused. Moderate levels of discrimination were found between a LOS of >6 hours and/or admission and PRAM (area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve [AUC] = 0.69, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.59 to 0.79) and PASS (AUC = 0.70, 95% CI = 0.60 to 0.80) as calculated at the start of the ED visit. Significant similar correlations were seen between the physician's judgment of severity and PRAM (r = 0.54, 95% CI = 0.42 to 0.65) and PASS (r = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.43 to 0.65). Conclusions:, The PRAM and PASS clinical asthma scores appear to be measures of asthma severity in children with discriminative properties. ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2010; 17:598,603 © 2010 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine [source] Cross-sectional survey of risk factors for asthma in 6,7-year-old children in New Zealand: International Study of Asthma and Allergy in Childhood Phase ThreeJOURNAL OF PAEDIATRICS AND CHILD HEALTH, Issue 6 2009Edwin A Mitchell Aim: To identify risk factors for asthma in primary school-aged children in New Zealand. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 10 873 6,7-year-old children in Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Nelson and Christchurch (a response rate of 85.2%). A questionnaire was completed by the parent or care giver. Results: 22.2% of children wheezed in the last 12 months (current wheeze). Maori children were at greater risk of current wheeze compared with European children (adjusted odds ratio (adjOR) = 1.37; 95% confidence interval = 1.18,1.59). Antibiotics and paracetamol used in the first year of life were associated with an increased risk of current wheeze (adjOR = 1.78 (1.56,2.04) and adjOR = 1.31 (1.06,1.61), respectively). Watching television for 5 or more hours per day was associated with an increased risk of current wheeze (adjOR = 1.44 (1.13,1.83)). Milk and egg consumption in the last 12 months was associated with a reduced risk of current wheeze. Conclusions: This study has identified risk factors for asthma in children aged 6,7 years, although causal pathways cannot be established. These associations have important public health implications if causal. [source] Oral corticosteroid therapy for acute asthma in children: Evidence of efficacy and current Australian practiceJOURNAL OF PAEDIATRICS AND CHILD HEALTH, Issue 6 2007Professor Peter P Van Asperen No abstract is available for this article. [source] Impact of allergic rhinitis on asthma in children: effects on bronchial hyperreactivityALLERGY, Issue 9 2010G. Ciprandi No abstract is available for this article. [source] Impact of allergic rhinitis on asthma in children: effects on bronchodilation testALLERGY, Issue 2 2010M. Capasso To cite this article: Capasso M, Varricchio A, Ciprandi G. Impact of allergic rhinitis on asthma in children: effects on bronchodilation test. Allergy 2010; 65: 264,268 DOI: 10.1111/j.1398-9995.2009.02168.x. Abstract Background:, Relevant relationship exists between upper and lower airways. Bronchial obstruction is a paramount feature of asthma and its reversibility is considered a diagnostic step for asthma diagnosis. Objective:, This study aimed at evaluating a large group of children with allergic rhinitis alone for investigating the degree of brochodilation and possible factors related to it. Methods:, Two hundred patients with allergic rhinitis and 150 normal subjects were consecutively evaluated. Clinical examination, skin prick test, spirometry, and bronchodilation test were performed in all patients. Results:, Rhinitics showed a significant FEV1 increase after bronchodilation test (P < 0.0001) in comparison both to basal values and to controls' levels. More than 20% of rhinitics had reversibility (,12% basal levels). Patients with reversibility had lower FEV1 levels, longer rhinitis duration, and perennial allergy. Conclusion:, This study highlights the close link between upper and lower airways and the relevance of performing bronchodilation test in patients with allergic rhinitis and these characteristics. [source] A novel study design to investigate the early-life origins of asthma in children (SAGE study)ALLERGY, Issue 8 2009A. L. Kozyrskyj This is a description of the Study of Asthma, Genes and the Environment (SAGE), a novel birth cohort created from provincial healthcare administrative records. It is a general population-based cohort, composed of children at high and low risk for asthma, living in urban and rural environments in Manitoba, Canada. The SAGE study captures the complete longitudinal healthcare records of children born in 1995 and contains detailed information on early-life exposures, such as antibiotic utilization and immunization, in relationship to the development of asthma. Nested within the birth cohort is a case-control study, which was created to collect information on home environmental exposures from detailed surveys and home dust sampling, to confirm asthma status in children and use this data to validate healthcare database measures of asthma, to determine differences in immune system responsiveness to innate and adaptive immune stimuli in asthma, to genotype children for genes likely associated with the development of asthma and to study the epigenetic regulation of pre-established protective vs allergic immune responses. The SAGE study is a multidisciplinary collaboration of researchers from pediatric allergy, population health, immunology, and genetic and environmental epidemiology. As such, it serves as a fertile, interdisciplinary training ground for graduate students, and postdoctoral and clinician fellows. [source] Maternal smoking increases risk of allergic sensitization and wheezing only in children with allergic predisposition: longitudinal analysis from birth to 10 yearsALLERGY, Issue 3 2009T. Keil Background:, The role of passive smoking for allergies and asthma in children above the age of 3 years remains unclear and possible interactive effects with parental allergies have not been formally evaluated in long-term studies. To examine the interaction of passive smoking and an allergic predisposition regarding allergic sensitization, allergic airway symptoms and respiratory infections during the first 10 years of life. Methods:, In a prospective multicenter birth cohort study with 1314 recruited children in Germany, we assessed serum immunoglobulin E against common allergens at seven time points, and parental smoking and respiratory symptoms annually by using questionnaires. Longitudinal analyses were performed using generalized estimating equation models (stratified by parental allergy status). Results:, During the first 10 years, 18% of the children were exposed to regular maternal smoking since pregnancy, 43% to irregular maternal or only paternal smoking. Among children with two allergic parents, a mother who smoked regularly significantly increased the odds for allergic sensitization (adjusted OR 4.8, 95% CI 1.3,18.2) and wheezing (adjusted OR 5.7, 95% CI 1.7,19.0) in her child compared with children who were never exposed. For those with only one allergic parent, the odds were doubled and also statistically significant, whereas in children without allergic parents maternal smoking had no effects. There was no association of maternal smoking with allergic rhinitis or respiratory infections. Conclusions:, Our results suggest that regular maternal smoking is a strong risk factor for allergic sensitization and asthma symptoms during the first 10 years of life, but only in children with allergic parents. [source] Specific immunotherapy has long-term preventive effect of seasonal and perennial asthma: 10-year follow-up on the PAT studyALLERGY, Issue 8 2007L. Jacobsen Background:, 3-year subcutaneous specific immunotherapy (SIT) in children with seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis reduced the risk of developing asthma during treatment and 2 years after discontinuation of SIT (5-year follow-up) indicating long-term preventive effect of SIT. Objective:, We evaluated the long-term clinical effect and the preventive effect of developing asthma 7-years after termination of SIT. Methods:, One hundred and forty-seven subjects, aged 16,25 years with grass and/or birch pollen allergy was investigated 10 years after initiation of a 3-year course of SIT with standardized allergen extracts of grass and/or birch or no SIT respectively. Conjunctival provocations were performed outside the season and methacholine bronchial provocations were performed during the season and winter. Asthma was assessed by clinical evaluation. Results:, The significant improvements in rhinoconjunctivitis and conjunctival sensitivity persisted at the 10-year follow-up. Significantly less actively treated subjects had developed asthma at 10-year follow-up as evaluated by clinical symptoms [odds ratio 2.5 (1.1,5.9)]. Patients who developed asthma among controls were 24/53 and in the SIT group 16/64. The longitudinal treatment effect when adjusted for bronchial hyper-responsiveness and asthma status at baseline including all observations at 3, 5 and 10 years follow-up (children with or without asthma at baseline, n = 189; 511 observations) was statistically significant (P = 0.0075). The odds ratio for no-asthma was 4.6 95% CI (1.5,13.7) in favor of SIT. Conclusion:, A 3-year course of SIT with standardized allergen extracts has shown long-term clinical effects and the potential of preventing development of asthma in children with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis up to 7 years after treatment. Clinical implication:, Specific immunotherapy has long-term clinical effects and the potential of preventing development of asthma in children with allergic rhino conjunctivitis up to 7 years after treatment termination. [source] Non-invasive markers of airway inflammation and remodeling in childhood asthmaPEDIATRIC ALLERGY AND IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 8 2009Rosalia Gagliardo To evaluate the relationship between pro-inflammatory and pro-remodeling mediators and severity and control of asthma in children, the levels of IL-8, MMP-9, TIMP-1 in induced sputum supernatants, the number of sputum eosinophils, as well as FeNO, were investigated in 35 asthmatic children, 12 with intermittent (IA) and 23 with moderate asthma (MA), and 9 controls (C). The patients with asthma were followed for 1 yr and sputum was obtained twice during the follow-up. Biomarker levels were correlated with the number of exacerbations. We found that IL-8, MMP-9, TIMP-1 and the numbers of eosinophils in induced sputum, as well as FeNO, were increased in children with IA and MA in comparison to C. The ongoing inflammation was confirmed by increased nuclear p65 NF-,B subunit localization in sputum cells. In MA, FeNO measurements, sputum eosinophils and IL-8 levels, positively correlated with the occurrence of disease exacerbations during a 1-yr follow-up. According to FeNO, sputum eosinophils and IL-8 sputum concentrations, and the number of exacerbations, two distinct phenotypes of MA were identified. This study shows that the presence of bronchial inflammation is detectable in the airways of some IA, as well as in the airways of MA, despite the regular ICS treatment. This study also proposes the need to perform large prospective studies to confirm the importance of measuring specific biomarkers in induced sputum, concomitantly to FeNO analyses, to assess sub-clinical airway inflammation and disease control in children with asthma. [source] Early intervention of recent onset mild persistent asthma in children aged under 11 yrs: the Steroid Treatment As Regular Therapy in early asthma (START) trialPEDIATRIC ALLERGY AND IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 2006Yu-Zhi Chen Inhaled corticosteroids are known to be effective in persistent asthma, but their long-term effect in mild persistent disease of recent onset, which is particularly relevant in children, requires clarification. The objective of this study was to determine the long-term efficacy of regular inhaled low-dose budesonide in children aged <11 yrs with mild persistent asthma with onset within 2 yrs of enrollment. Children aged 5,10 yrs formed part of the population of the inhaled Steroid Treatment As Regular Therapy in early asthma (START) study, and they were randomized in a double-blind manner to treatment with once daily budesonide 200 ,g or placebo via TurbuhalerTM in addition to usual clinical care and other asthma medication. The double-blind treatment phase continued for 3 yrs. Of the 1974 children, 1000 in the budesonide group and 974 in the placebo group, were analyzed for efficacy. Addition of once-daily budesonide to usual care was associated with a significant increase in the time to first severe asthma-related event (SARE) and significantly reduced risk of SARE over 3 yrs. The hazard ratio relative to usual care (placebo) was 0.60 (95% confidence interval: 0.40,0.90; p = 0.012), with a relative risk reduction of 40%. Children receiving budesonide also needed significantly less intervention with other inhaled corticosteroids (12.3% vs. 22.5% over 3 yrs; p < 0.01), with trends towards decreased usage of oral/systemic corticosteroids and inhaled short-acting ,2 -agonists. Budesonide treatment also had a significant beneficial effect on lung function relative to placebo. In conclusion, early intervention adding once-daily budesonide to usual care in children with mild, persistent asthma of recent onset reduces the long-term risk and frequency of SAREs and improves lung function compared with usual care alone. [source] The combination of nebulized sodium cromoglycate and salbutamol in the treatment of moderate-to-severe asthma in childrenPEDIATRIC ALLERGY AND IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 3 2002Kenshi Furusho The aim of this multi-centre prospective study was to evaluate the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of the combination of sodium cromoglycate (SCG) and salbutamol (administered as a nebulized solution), compared to SCG alone and salbutamol alone, in the management of severe, intractable asthma in childhood. The study was an open, randomized, cross-over trial of 12 weeks' duration in children with moderate-to-severe intractable asthma. All treatments were administered twice daily by powered nebulizer. The primary outcome measure was the change in asthma severity, as measured by the mean asthma score during the last 2 weeks of a baseline period and the last 2 weeks of each treatment. Secondary outcome measure was the patient's opinion of the effectiveness of treatment. The change in asthma scores from baseline values were significantly greater with the combination treatment compared to each component administered separately. The mean difference in asthma score between the combination and salbutamol was: ,7.5; 95% CI, ,11.70 to ,3.29 (p < 0.0001). The mean difference between the combination and SCG was: ,8.53; 95% CI, ,14.03 to ,3.25 (p < 0.0001). Patients were also significantly in favor of combination treatment (p < 0.001 vs. salbutamol; p < 0.01 vs. SCG). Two patients reported adverse effects. We concluded that regular twice-daily inhalation of a combination of SCG and salbutamol gave better control of symptoms than previous treatments in patients with severe, intractable asthma. Few adverse effects with this therapy suggest that it is extremely useful, safe, and effective. [source] Is home spirometry useful in diagnosing asthma in children with nonspecific respiratory symptoms?,PEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY, Issue 4 2010Alwin F.J. Brouwer MD Abstract Background Variation of lung function is considered to be a hallmark of asthma. Although guidelines recommend measuring it as a diagnostic tool for asthma, the usefulness of this approach has not been studied in children. Aim To assess the usefulness of home spirometry in children with nonspecific lower respiratory tract symptoms, to diagnose or exclude asthma. Methods In school-aged children, referred by their general practitioner because of chronic respiratory symptoms of unknown origin, the diagnosis of asthma was made or excluded by a pediatric pulmonologist (gold standard), based on international guidelines and a standardized protocol. Additionally, children measured peak expiratory flow (PEF) and forced expiratory flow in 1,sec (FEV1) twice daily for 2 weeks on a home spirometer, from which diurnal variation was calculated. These results (index test) were not revealed to the pediatric pulmonologist. The value of home spirometry to diagnose asthma was calculated. Results Sixty-one children (27 boys) were included (mean age: 10.4 years; range: 6,16 years). Between asthma and no asthma, the mean difference in PEF variation was 4.4% (95% CI: 0.9,7.9; P,=,0.016) and in FEV1 variation 4.5% (95% CI: 1.6,7.4; P,=,0.003). Sensitivity and specificity, based on the 95th-centile of the reference values for PEF and FEV1 variation (12.3% and 11.8%, respectively) were 50% and 72% for PEF variation and 45% and 92% for FEV1 variation. The likelihood ratio was 1.8 for PEF and 5.6 for FEV1. Conclusions The contribution of home spirometry in the diagnostic process for asthma in schoolchildren with nonspecific respiratory symptoms is limited. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2010; 45:326,332. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Recommendations for treatment of intermittent mild persistent asthma in children and adolescentsPEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY, Issue 3 2009Charles K. Naspitz MD Abstract Many parents and caretakers of children and adolescents with mild persistent asthma (MPA) do not follow proposed guidelines, namely the daily and continuous administration of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS). Instead, parents and caretakers tend to use ICS and bronchodilators intermittently for short periods and restart such therapy only when symptoms reappear. It is our opinion that intermittent treatment of MPA in children and adolescents might achieve the same level of asthma control as has been achieved in adults. We propose, therefore, that after an initial period of stabilization with age-appropriate doses of oral glucocorticoids or high-dose ICS and short-acting beta-2 agonists (SABA), caretakers can stop treatment once there are no longer signs or symptoms of asthma. When asthmatic symptoms recur, treatment should be restarted with ICS and SABA, or oral corticosteroids if the exacerbation is severe. The perception of developing asthma symptoms remains an unsolved problem. Based on our clinical experience in children and adolescents with asthma, we list a number of signs and symptoms that precede an exacerbation of asthma, allowing for an early re-introduction of treatment to prevent an exacerbation. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2009; 44:205,208. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Childhood asthma epidemiology: Insights from comparative studies of rural and urban populations,PEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY, Issue 2 2008Gary W.K. Wong MD Abstract Asthma is one of the most common chronic respiratory disorders. Many epidemiology studies have suggested an increasing trend of asthma in many different regions of the world but the exact reasons explaining such trend remain unclear. Nevertheless, changing environmental factors are most likely important in explaining the trend of asthma. Studies in the past decade have clearly shown a mark difference in the prevalence between urban and rural regions. The consistent findings of a markedly lower prevalence of asthma in children and adults who have been brought up in a farming environment clearly indicate the importance of environmental influence of asthma development. Although the exact protective environmental factors in the rural region remain to be defined, there have been many studies suggesting that early exposure to microbes or microbial products may play a role in modulating the immune system so as to reduce the future risk of asthma and allergies. Advances in the understanding of the genetic predisposition and how these genetic factors may interact with specific environment factors are of paramount importance for the future development of primary preventive strategies for asthma. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2008; 43:107,116. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] A systematic review of psychological interventions for children with asthmaPEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY, Issue 2 2007Grad., Janelle Yorke MSc Abstract Aim: Psychological factors may influence the symptoms and management of asthma in children in many ways. It is, therefore, suggested that psychological interventions may be appropriate for this population. This paper reports a systematic review assessing the efficacy of psychological interventions in improving health outcomes for children with asthma. Methodology: A review of Randomized Controlled Trials (RCT) was designed. RCTs assessing the effects of a psychological intervention in child participants were included in the review. Outcome measures included healthcare utilization, lung function, asthma symptoms, and psychological health status. The search was conducted until April 2005. Results: Twelve studies, involving 588 children, were included in the review; however, study quality was poor and sample sizes were frequently small. A meta-analysis was performed on two studies, examining the effects of relaxation therapy on PEFR which favored the treatment group (SD 0.82, CI 0.41,1.24). No other meta-analysis could be performed due to the diversity of interventions and the outcomes assessed. In addition, many studies reported insufficient data. Conclusions: This review was unable to draw firm conclusions for the role of psychological interventions for children with asthma. We recommend that valid outcome measures for evaluating the effectiveness of psychological interventions for children with asthma need to address adjustment to and coping with asthma, as well as other psychological indicators. The absence of an adequate evidence base is demonstrated, highlighting the need for well-conducted RCTs in this area. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2007; 42:114,124. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Skin-prick testing as a diagnostic aid for childhood asthmaPEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY, Issue 6 2005E.Y. Chan MRC Abstract Diagnosing asthma is problematic when based solely on reported symptoms. The purpose of this study was to evaluate skin-prick testing as a diagnostic aid for asthma in children. Skin-prick testing (SPT) was undertaken in children aged 2,10 years with either no history of wheeze (n,=,149) or recent doctor-observed wheeze which responded to treatment with a bronchodilator, the "gold standard" (n,=,164). Children with moderate or severe asthma were excluded. SPT positivity increased sharply at age 5 years in wheezers. Data were therefore divided into two age groups: 2,<5 years (57 controls, 97 wheezers) and 5,10 years (92 controls, 67 wheezers). The sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratios of SPT positivity for wheeze were 32%, 89%, and 2.9, respectively, in the younger children, and 82%, 85%, and 5.5, respectively, in the older children. For a prevalence of 30% for asthma, the positive predictive values of a positive SPT were 55% and 70% for the younger and older age groups, respectively. The test characteristics of SPT for helping diagnose asthma in schoolchildren are good. The prevalence of wheeze in preschool children is high, and so SPT should be helpful even in this group. We suggest that clinicians consider skin-prick testing as a diagnostic aid for asthma. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Smoking habits in adolescents with mild to moderate asthmaPEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY, Issue 3 2004Eyal Zimlichman MD Abstract To study the impact of mild to moderate asthma on smoking habits in adolescents. Specifically, we tested the hypothesis that asthma does not prevent adolescents from smoking. A research questionnaire, filled by a systematic sample of military personnel upon enrolment to service in the Israeli Defense Force (IDF), was analyzed. Conscripts were asked to voluntarily fill (after obtaining a signed informed consent) a research questionnaire about their medical history, and several health related topics including smoking. This database was matched with the military medical profile of the soldier, which includes the patient asthma status. Overall, 38,047 young adults were included in this study. There was a significant increase in the rate of mild to moderate asthma, from the mid-1980's to date. During the 1980's and early 1990's, asthmatics smoked significantly less frequently (20,22%) than non-asthmatics (25,27%). In the mid- to late-1990's, the smoking rates increased relatively more in asthmatics, to the point that in the last 8 years of this study, they were found to be almost identical in both groups, at a rate of approximately 30%. The presence of asthma is not a powerful motivating agent to prevent from smoking. It is likely that smoking asthmatic teenagers are at risk for suboptimal lung growth, and as young adults, they will become at greater risk of lung function deterioration. We suggest that primary care physicians, caring for asthma in children, adolescents, and young adults, should explain the particular risks generated by tobacco smoking. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Relationship between bronchial hyperresponsiveness and development of asthma in children with chronic coughPEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY, Issue 6 2001Hideko Nishimura MD Abstract To evaluate the relationship between bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) and the development of asthma in children with chronic cough, we performed methacholine inhalation challenges and transcutaneous oxygen pressure (tcPO2) measurements in 92 children with chronic cough aged from 1,13 years (55 boys and 37 girls; mean, 5.3 years) and followed them for ,,,10 years. Forty-four age-matched children with asthma (24 males and 20 females; mean, 6.5 years) and 44 age-matched children without cough or asthma served as controls (18 males and 26 females; mean, 4.6 years). Consecutive doubling doses of methacholine were inhaled until a 10% decrease in tcPO2 from baseline was observed. The cumulative dose of methacholine at the inflection point of the tcPO2 record (Dmin-PO2) was considered to represent hyperresponsiveness to inhaled methacholine. After 10 years or more of follow-up, 60 of the 92 subjects with cough answered our questionnaire, and 27/60 had been diagnosed with asthma. There was a statistical difference in Dmin-PO2 between the children who presented with chronic cough originally and who developed asthma (asthma-developed group) and those who did not develop asthma (asthma-free group). There was no difference in the value of Dmin-PO2 between the asthma-developed group and the asthma group, or between the asthma-free group and the age-matched control group. Among the children with chronic cough, there was no difference in Dmin-PO2 between girls and boys, either in the asthma-developed group or in the asthma-group. We conclude that 45% of the children with a chronic cough in early life developed asthma, and that BHR in children with chronic cough during the childhood period is a strong risk factor for the development of asthma. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2001; 31:412,418. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Toxocara seropositivity in Sri Lankan children with asthmaPEDIATRICS INTERNATIONAL, Issue 2 2009Deepika Fernando Abstract Background:, Toxocariasis occurs in humans due to infection with Toxocara canis or T. cati, the nematode parasites of dogs and cats, respectively. The relationship between toxocariasis and asthma is complex, with some studies demonstrating that children with asthma were more likely to be Toxocara seropositive as compared to non-asthmatic children, and other studies indicating no such significant relationship. The aim of the present study was to investigate Toxocara seropositivity and its association with asthma in a selected group of Sri Lankan children. Methods:, Two groups of children were studied: group 1 included 100 children with confirmed bronchial asthma who were on regular inhaler steroid treatment for asthma; group 2 included 96 children who did not have physician-diagnosed asthma or upper respiratory tract infections, attending the same hospital. Diagnosis of Toxocara seropositivity was based on IgG Toxocara Microwell Serum Elisa Kits. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was regarded as positive for a reading of 0.3 optical density units. Stool samples were examined for helminth ova. Results:,Toxocara seropositivity in children with asthma was 29% and this was significantly more than Toxocara seropositivity among non-asthmatic children (P < 0.001). Toxocara seropositivity was identified as a significant risk factor of asthma in a univariate model. Eosinophilia was seen in a significantly higher proportion of non-asthmatic and asthmatic children who were Toxocara seropositive. Toxocara seropositivity, however, was not identified as a significant risk factor in a multivariate model. Conclusions:, The analysis confirmed previously identified risk factors for asthma but there was no association between the helminth parasitic infection, toxocariasis and bronchial asthma in children. [source] Chlamydia pneumoniae and newly diagnosed asthma: a case-control study in 1 to 6-year-old childrenRESPIROLOGY, Issue 2 2004Matti KORPPI Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the association between antibodies to Chlamydia pneumoniae and the onset of asthma in children. Methodology: In 1996,2000, 122 children aged 1,6 years, who were treated for new asthma as inpatients or outpatients in our hospital, were recruited. For each patient, two controls, matched by age, sex and municipality, were randomly selected from the same population. In 2000, 104 serum samples were available from patients (85%) and 120 from controls (49%) for microimmunofluorescence (MIF) assay for C. pneumoniae and C. trachomatis antibodies, and for enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for C. pneumoniae antibodies. Results: In EIA, the median IgG concentrations were 20 EIU (EIA units) in the patients, and 16 EIU in the controls. IgG was positive (> 30 EIU) in 37 (36%) patients and in 36 (31%) controls. IgA was positive (> 12 EIU) in four (4%) patients and in eight (7%) controls. In MIF, four (4%) patients and seven (6%) controls were IgG positive, and seven were also IgA positive. IgM antibodies were detected in four children by EIA, and in none by MIF. Conclusion: IgG antibodies to C. pneumoniae, though common in 1 to 6-year-old children as detected by EIA, did not differ between newly diagnosed asthma patients and controls in this case-control study. [source] Respiratory morbidity and lung function in two Aboriginal communities in Western AustraliaRESPIROLOGY, Issue 3 2002Marieke W. VERHEIJDEN Objective: To examine differences in the rates of respiratory symptoms, asthma and levels of lung function in two remote Aboriginal communities. Methodology: Respiratory symptoms, smoking history, skin prick test responses to common allergens, serum IgE, lung function, airway responsiveness to methacholine and white blood cell counts were compared in two Aboriginal communities, one from the central desert (n = 84) and another from the tropical north (n = 209) of Western Australia. Results: Compared with the tropical community, chest tightness and dyspnoea were more frequent and forced expiratory volume in 1 s and forced vital capacity were lower in the desert community, despite similar levels of wheeze, doctor-diagnosed asthma and skin prick test responses and lower levels of airway responsiveness and smoking. The total white cell and neutrophil counts were greater in the desert community. Serum IgE was very high and similar in both communities. Conclusions: Our findings show a low prevalence of asthma in children, a high prevalence of respiratory symptoms and low levels of lung function in remote Aboriginal communities. The greater prevalence of respiratory morbidity in the desert community was not explained by diagnosed asthma, airway hyperresponsiveness or cigarette smoking. The role of infection requires further investigation. The results suggest that the lower lung function observed in Aboriginal communities (compared with non-Aboriginal communities) results at least partly from environmental factors. [source] A case-control study of risk factors for asthma in New Zealand childrenAUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, Issue 1 2001Kristin Wickens Objective: As in other English-speaking countries, asthma is a major and increasing health problem in New Zealand. This study examined the risk factors for asthma in children aged 7,9. Methods: Cases and controls were randomly selected from participants in the Wellington arm of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). Cases were children with a previous diagnosis of asthma and current medication use (n=233), and controls were children with no history of wheezing and no diagnosis of asthma (n=241). Results: After controlling for confounders, factors significantly associated with asthma were maternal (OR=3.36, 95% Cl 1.88,5.99) and paternal asthma (OR=2.67, 95% Cl 1.42,5.02), and male sex (OR=1.81, 95% Cl 1.17,2.81). Children from social classes 5 and 6 or with unemployed parents (OR=2.32, 95% Cl 1.22,4.44) were significantly more likely to have asthma than children in social classes 1 and 2. There was no significant association between having polio vaccination (OR=2.48, 95% Cl 0.83,7.41), hepatitis B vaccination (OR=0.66, 95% Cl 0.42,1.04) or measles/mumps/rubella vaccination (OR=1.43, 95% Cl 0.85,2.41) and asthma. Conclusions: This study has confirmed the associations of family history and lower socio-economic status with current asthma in 7,9 year old children. The role of vaccinations requires further research. [source] The Role of Exhaled Nitric Oxide in Evaluation of Acute Asthma in a Pediatric Emergency DepartmentACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 1 2009Maria Y. Kwok MD Abstract Objectives:, Fractional excretion of nitric oxide (FENO) has been used as a noninvasive marker to assess and manage chronic asthma in adults and children. The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of obtaining FENO concentrations in children treated in the emergency department (ED) for acute asthma exacerbation and to examine the association between FENO concentrations and other measures of acute asthma severity. Methods:, This was a cross-sectional study of a convenience sample of children 2,18 years old who were seen in an urban ED for acute asthma exacerbation. Using a tidal breathing method with real-time display, the authors measured FENO concentrations before and 1 hour after the administration of corticosteroids and at discharge from the ED. Outcome measures included pulmonary index score (PIS), hospital admission, and short-term outcomes (e.g., missed days of school). Results:, A total of 133 subjects were enrolled. Sixty-eight percent (95% confidence interval [CI] = 60% to 76%) of the subjects provided adequate breaths for FENO measurement. There was no difference in the median initial FENO concentration among subjects, regardless of the severity of their acute asthma. Most subjects showed no change in their FENO concentrations from the start to the end of treatment. FENO concentrations were not significantly associated with other short-term outcomes. Conclusions:, Measurement of FENO is difficult for a large proportion of children with acute asthma exacerbation. FENO concentration during an asthma exacerbation does not correlate with other measures of acute severity and has limited utility in the ED management of acute asthma in children. [source] Anti-inflammatory treatment of asthma: differentiation and trial-and-errorACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 8 2009Ole D Wolthers Abstract The relative lack of evidence for anti-inflammatory treatment of some phenotypes of asthma in children has been highlighted in recent guidelines and consensus reports specifically aiming at the paediatric population. Consequently, we are left with a need for defining treatment strategies in the clinical setting. The decision to initiate antiinflammatory treatment should be based on assessments of the individual child's age, the type of asthma, severity, heredity and atopic condition, adherence factors and sensitivity to systemic adverse effects of treatment options. Inhaled corticosteroids are potent anti-inflammatory agents that are effective in the whole spectrum of asthma in school age children. In toddlers with viral wheeze and in children with mild asthma oral leukotriene receptor antagonists or inhaled corticosteroids may be given on a trial-and-error basis. Conclusion:, To treat all children with asthma equally effectively from infancy through adolescence does not mean that they should be treated identically and in some types of asthma a trial-and-error approach may be warranted. [source] Cultural perspectives of interventions for managing diabetes and asthma in children and adolescents from ethnic minority groupsCHILD: CARE, HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 5 2010V. Mc Manus Abstract Both diabetes and asthma are increasingly being recognized as health problems for ethnic groups. Because of cultural differences, ethnicity is reported to be a risk factor for poorer quality in health care, disease management and disease control. Ethnic groups are at risk for poorer quality of life and increased disease complications when compared with non-ethnic counterparts living in the same country. There is little known about how culture is addressed in interventions developed for ethnic groups. The aim of this paper is to systematically review the cultural perspectives of interventions for managing diabetes and asthma in children, adolescents and/or their families from ethnic minority groups. A total of 92 records were identified that were potentially relevant to this review following which, 61 papers were excluded. The full texts of remaining papers (n= 31) were then read independently by both authors, and agreement was reached to exclude a further 27 papers that did not meet inclusion criteria. A total of four papers were eligible for inclusion in this review. Findings indicate that despite growing concerns about health disparities between ethnic and non-ethnic groups in relation to both asthma and diabetes in childhood, there has been little effort to develop cultural specific interventions for ethnic groups. By systematically reviewing asthma and diabetes interventions we have highlighted that few interventions have been developed from a cultural perspective. There are a limited number of interventions published that add knowledge on the specific elements of intervention that is needed to effectively and sensitively educate other cultures. More work is required into identifying which strategies or components of cultural interventions are most effective in achieving positive health outcomes for children, adolescents and/or their families from ethnic groups. [source] Volatile organic compounds in exhaled breath as a diagnostic tool for asthma in childrenCLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGY, Issue 1 2010J. W. Dallinga Summary Background The correct diagnosis of asthma in young children is often hard to achieve, resulting in undertreatment of asthmatic children and overtreatment in transient wheezers. Objectives To develop a new diagnostic tool that better discriminates between asthma and transient wheezing and that leads to a more accurate diagnosis and hence less undertreatment and overtreatment. A first stage in the development of such a tool is the ability to discriminate between asthmatic children and healthy controls. The integrative analysis of large numbers of volatile organic compounds (VOC) in exhaled breath has the potential to discriminate between various inflammatory conditions of the respiratory tract. Methods Breath samples were obtained and analysed for VOC by gas chromatography,mass spectrometry from asthmatic children (n=63) and healthy controls (n=57). A total of 945 determined compounds were subjected to discriminant analysis to find those that could discriminate diseased from healthy children. A set of samples from both asthmatic and healthy children was selected to construct a model that was subsequently used to predict the asthma or the healthy status of a test group. In this way, the predictive value of the model could be tested. Measurements and main results The discriminant analyses demonstrated that asthma and healthy groups are distinct from one another. A total of eight components discriminated between asthmatic and healthy children with a 92% correct classification, achieving a sensitivity of 89% and a specificity of 95%. Conclusion The results show that a limited number of VOC in exhaled air can well be used to distinguish children with asthma from healthy children. Cite this as: J. W. Dallinga, C. M. H. H. T. Robroeks, J. J. B. N. van Berkel, E. J. C. Moonen, R. W. L. Godschalk, Q. Jöbsis, E. Dompeling, E. F. M. Wouters and F. J. van Schooten, Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 2010 (40) 68,76. [source] Early-life co-administration of cockroach allergen and endotoxin augments pulmonary and systemic responsesCLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGY, Issue 7 2009K. Kulhankova Summary Background Environmental exposures to cockroach allergen and endotoxin are recognized epidemiological risk factors for the early development of allergies and asthma in children. Because of this, it is important to examine the role of early-life concurrent inhalation exposures to cockroach allergen and endotoxin in the pathogenesis of allergic airways disease. Objective We examined the effects of repeated concomitant endotoxin and cockroach allergen inhalation on the pulmonary and systemic immune responses of newborn and juvenile mice. Methods C3H/HeBFeJ mice were exposed to inhaled endotoxin and cockroach allergen via intranasal instillation from day 2 to 21 after birth, and systemic and pulmonary responses were examined in serum, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and lung tissue. Results Cockroach allergen exposures induced pulmonary eosinophilic inflammation, total and allergen-specific IgE, IgG1, and IgG2a production, and alveolar remodelling. Co-exposures with endotoxin and cockroach allergen significantly increased serum IgE and IgG1, lung inflammation, and alveolar wall thickness, and decreased airspace volume density. Importantly, compared with exposures with individual substances, the responses to co-exposures were more than additive. Conclusions Repeated inhalation exposures of neonatal and juvenile mice to endotoxin and cockroach allergen increased the pulmonary inflammatory and systemic immune responses in a synergistic manner and enhanced alveolar remodelling in the developing lung. These data underscore the importance of evaluating the effect of multiple, concurrent environmental exposures, and of using an experimental model that incorporates clinically relevant timing and route of exposures. [source] A meta-analysis of the association between Caesarean section and childhood asthmaCLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGY, Issue 4 2008S. Thavagnanam Summary Background Children born by Caesarean section have modified intestinal bacterial colonization and consequently may have an increased risk of developing asthma under the hygiene hypothesis. The results of previous studies that have investigated the association between Caesarean section and asthma have been conflicting. Objective To review published literature and perform a meta-analysis summarizing the evidence in support of an association between children born by Caesarean section and asthma. Methods MEDLINE, Web Science, Google Scholar and PubMed were searched to identify relevant studies. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated for each study from the reported prevalence of asthma in children born by Caesarean section and in control children. Meta-analysis was then used to derive a combined OR and test for heterogeneity in the findings between studies. Results Twenty-three studies were identified. The overall meta-analysis revealed an increase in the risk of asthma in children delivered by Caesarean section (OR=1.22, 95% CI 1.14, 1.29). However, in this analysis, there was evidence of heterogeneity (I2=46%) that was statistically significant (P<0.001). Restricting the analysis to childhood studies, this heterogeneity was markedly decreased (I2=32%) and no longer attained statistical significance (P=0.08). In these studies, there was also evidence of an increase (P<0.001) in the risk of asthma after Caesarean section (OR=1.20, 95% CI 1.14, 12.6). Conclusion In this meta-analysis, we found a 20% increase in the subsequent risk of asthma in children who had been delivered by Caesarean section. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||