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Exercise‐induced bronchoconstriction among Malay schoolchildren
Author(s) -
Zainudin Norzila Mohamed,
Aziz Bilkis Abdul,
Haifa A. L.,
Deng Cheng Teik,
Omar Azizi Hj
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
respirology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1440-1843
pISSN - 1323-7799
DOI - 10.1046/j.1440-1843.2001.00326.x
Subject(s) - medicine , wheeze , asthma , malay , bronchoconstriction , cross sectional study , environmental health , pediatrics , population , pathology , philosophy , linguistics
Objective: Exercise‐induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) may be demonstrated in 60–70% of asthmatic children in temperate climates. In areas of high humidity it is postulated to be low. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of EIB in a population of schoolchildren with wheezing, living in the humid tropical climate of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Method: We performed a cross‐sectional study using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire to identify 7–12‐year‐old Malay children with asthma symptoms from a primary school in central Kuala Lumpur. Sixty‐five of 76 children with ‘ever wheeze’ performed an exercise challenge test successfully in an uncontrolled environment. A random sample of 80 schoolchildren with no history of wheeze were similarly tested as controls. The relative humidity and temperature were recorded. A fall of > 15% was considered as clinically important. Results: The prevalence of EIB in schoolchildren with ‘ever wheeze’ was 47.7%. The prevalence of EIB in children with ‘current wheeze’ was 51.6%. The prevalence of EIB in controls was 7.5%. The relative humidity during the study ranged from 41 to 90%. There was no significant relationship between different humidity levels and EIB ( P = 0.58, regression analysis). Conclusion: This study demonstrates that EIB is present in asthmatic children despite the highly humid tropical environment.