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(Chest. 1996;110:624-631.)
© 1996 American College of Chest Physicians

Characteristics and Diagnostic Significance of Wheezes During Exercise-Induced Airway Obstruction in Children With Asthma

Simon Rietveld MSc1 and Edo H. Dooijes PhD2

1 From the Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands
2 From the Computer Science Department, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands

The diagnostic significance of wheezes for childhood asthma has not been studied systematically (to our knowledge), even though alternative diagnostic methods are limited, especially with children too young for lung function testing. To fill this gap, tracheal sounds were continuously recorded of 70 school-aged children with and 30 without asthma during standardized physical exercise. Wheezes were digitally analyzed and compared with sound patterns previously recorded after histamine inhalation. Exercise-induced wheezes proved to be indistinguishable from sound patterns associated with histamine. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of any wheeze for a fall in FEV1 greater than 20% after exercise were, respectively, 86% and 99%. The sensitivity and specificity of any wheeze for a diagnosis of asthma were, respectively, 19% and 100%. Wheezes were often audible for a short time only, making traditional (stethoscopic) detection unlikely and thereby restricting clinical diagnostic significance. This suggests that the development of automated detection techniques may be warranted.

Key Words: airway obstruction • asthma • children • diagnostics • lung sounds • physical exercise • wheezes

Submitted on July 6, 1995
Accepted on December 1, 2007




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S. Rietveld and W. Everaerd
Perceptions of Asthma by Adolescents at Home
Chest, February 1, 2000; 117(2): 434 - 439.
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