Abstract
Background: Pulmonary function tests play an important role in the diagnosis, and management of respiratory diseases in children. The aim of our study was to evaluate the lung function by performing spirometry and airway resistance by the interrupter technique (Rint) in pre-school children in relation to their atopic status.
Materials and methods: We studied 83 asymptomatic children (Males: 51 and Females: 32, mean age 5.15 years ± 0.72 SD). For each child has been collected the family history concerning: atopy, respiratory diseases, history of gestational and neonatal period. In all children, Skin Prick Test (SPT) to inhalant and food allergens were performed. Rint, by requiring minimal cooperation to be carried out, were performed in all subjects. Spirometry was also well tolerated by 56 subjects and was used to determine FEV1 and FEV0,5.
Results: Twenty-two subjects (26.5%) had positive SPT. The following table shows the values of the main spirometric and Rint parameters of atopic (A) and not atopic subjects (NA).
Conclusions: Despite our study assess the feasibility and repeatibility of both tests in preschool children, spirometric parameters were not statistically different between atopic and not atopic children, while mean values of RintEwere significant lower in non atopic compared to atopic children.
- © 2011 ERS