STUDY OF THE INCIDENCE Of EXERCISE INDUCED BRONCHOSPASM IN CHilDREN

Abstract

The aim of this study was to show the incidence of exercise induced bronchospasm in apparently healthy children. The study was conducted in 451 school children, their age ranged from 11-16 years, 212 were Boys and 219 were girls with mean age of 12.78 - 12.03 respectivily.

All children were subjected to a complete physical and medical exa ination . The ventilatory functions done for every child were in the form of the vital capacity (V.C), Forced vital capacity (F.V.C), Forced expiratory volume in first second (FEV1), FEV1/FVC, Forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of the F.V.C (FEF25- 75%), peak expiratory flow (PEF), Maximum expiratory flow at 25%

(MEF25%), Maximum voluntary ventilation (M.V.V) These ventilatory

function tests were measured before and 10 minutes after free range • running for 5 minutes •as exercise challenge 'test. After this

exercise challenge, only 36 children (7.98%) out of 451 developed exercise induced bronchospasm (EIB), as evidenced by a decrease of FEV1% more than 15% of the predictive value after exercise. The main site of airway obstruction was found in the large airways.