This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: chest.07-0052v1 132/2/497    most recent Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My Personal Article Archive Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (1) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Vilozni, D. Articles by Augarten, A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Vilozni, D. Articles by Augarten, A.

Exercise Challenge Test in 3- to 6-Year-Old Asthmatic Children^*

^* From the Pediatric Pulmonary Unit (Drs. Vilozni, Efrati, Barak, Szeinberg, Yahav, and Augarten), Edmond and Lily Safra Children’s Hospital, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel-HaShomer, Ramat-Gan, Israel; Pediatric Pulmonology Unit (Dr. Bentur), Meyer Children’s Hospital Rambam Medical Center, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel; and Pediatric Department (Dr. Shoseyov), Hadassah Medical Center, Mount Scopus, Jerusalem, Israel.

Correspondence to: Daphna Vilozni, PhD, Pediatric Pulmonary Unit, The Edmond and Lily Safra Children’s Hospital, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel HaShomer, Ramat-Gan 52621, Israel; e-mail: daphna.vilozni{at}sheba.health.gov.il

Abstract

Rationale: The exercise challenge test (ECT) is a common tool to assess exercise-induced asthma (EIA) in school-aged children. EIA has not been explored in the early childhood setting.

Objective: To assess the existence of EIA in children in this age group.

Measurements and main results:A 6-min, controlled, free-run test was performed in 55 children (age range, 3 to 6 years old) who were classified into the following groups: 30 children in whom asthma had been previously diagnosed (group A); and 25 children with prolonged coughing (group B). Spirometry measurements were obtained before the run, and at 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, and 20 min after the run. A positive finding of EIA was defined as a 13% decrease from baseline FEV₁ or baseline forced expiratory volume in the first 0.5 s (FEV_0.5). The actual duration of each run was age-related (mean [± SD] duration, 4.8 ± 0.8 min). The nadir in indexes occurred after a mean time of 2.98 ± 1.31 min. A positive EIA finding determined by FEV₁ was present in 15 children, and by FEV_0.5 in 34 children. Twenty-six children were from group A, but only 8 children were from group B. Wheezing and/or prolonged expiration were associated with a positive test result in 31 of 34 children. Coughing was frequent in children with both negative and positive ECT findings.

Conclusion: The present study documents for the first time the presence of EIA in response to a free-run test in early childhood. Our findings suggest that a free-run test for the presence of EIA is suitable, but that the running duration is limited by age. The duration of airflow limitation after exercise is significantly earlier and shorter in young children with asthma compared with older children. FEV_0.5 is a better index than the traditional FEV₁ for describing positive ECT results in young children. The association of wheezing and/or prolonged expiration may help in defining EIA in early childhood in the absence of a spirometer.

Key Words: early childhood • exercise challenge • exercise-induced asthma • spirometry