[Prevention of post-exertion airway obstruction in children and adolescents with bronchial asthma]

Abstract

In 86 asthmatics (age 8-16 years), divided into several groups, the protective effects of pharmacological and non-pharmacological agents on the exercise-induced airway obstruction (e.i.a.o.) by 5 minutes free running were studied. There were studied the preventive inhalations of bronchodilators, i.e. fenoterol (0.2 mg), ipratropium-bromide (0.06 mg) and both combined of 0.15 mg of fenoterol and 0.06 mg of ipratropium-bromide on the exercise-induced airway obstruction. The protective effects of breathing through nose as well as the effect of the temperature in the surrounding environment on the e.i.a.o. were studied too. The exercise-induced airway obstruction was assessed on the basis of parameters measured from maximum expiratory flow-volume curves. Maximum expiratory flow at 25% of vital capacity was most sensitive in the assessment of e.i.a.o. The studied bronchodilators protected all patients against e.i.a.o. The textile face mask (surgical mask) put on the nose and mouth during 5 min. free running outdoors and in a closed room protected some asthmatics completely against e.i.a.o. or reduced substantially e.i.a.o. in others. The nose breathing had a similar effect on e.i.a.o. as the textile face mask. The surrounding temperature of air was not decisive in the induction of post-exercise airway obstruction. Non-pharmacological agents ought to be thus more included among the therapeutical means in pediatric and adolescent asthmatics.