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Clinical findings associated with abnormal lung function in children aged 3–26 months with recurrent respiratory symptoms
Author(s) -
Pelkonen AS,
KotaniemiSyrjänen A,
Malmström K,
Malmberg LP,
Mäkelä MJ
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
acta pædiatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2010.01790.x
Subject(s) - medicine , chest radiograph , physical examination , lung , respiratory system , spirometry , pulmonary function testing , plethysmograph , respiratory tract , functional residual capacity , wheeze , respiratory disease , lung volumes , asthma , pediatrics
Aim: To evaluate whether there are any associations between parentally reported symptoms, clinical findings and lung function in young children with recurrent lower respiratory tract symptoms. Methods: In 2000–2003, 148 children, aged 3–26 months, with recurrent lower respiratory tract symptoms underwent physical examination, investigation of a chest radiograph, whole body plethysmography and skin prick testing to common food and inhalant allergens. Results: Lung function was considered abnormal (i.e. functional residual capacity z ‐score of ≥1.65 and/or specific conductance z ‐score of ≤−1.65) in 83 (56%) children. Findings of increased work of breathing (p < 0.001) and nonspecific noisy breathing sounds (p < 0.001) in the physical examination, as well as an abnormal chest radiograph (p = 0.028) were independently associated with abnormal lung function, explaining up to 34% of the variation in lung function. In contrast, parentally reported respiratory symptoms, environmental exposures or atopic trait were not associated with lung function abnormalities. Conclusion: The results of this study emphasize the importance of the meticulous clinical examination in the evaluation of early childhood respiratory disorders. As physical examination alone cannot predict lung function abnormalities reliably in preschool children with troublesome respiratory symptoms, lung function testing may be considered in such patients to obtain additional objective information.