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The Free‐Running Asthma Screening Test: An Approach to Screening for Exercise‐Induced Asthma in Rural Alabama
Author(s) -
Heaman Doris J.,
Estes Jenny
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
journal of school health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.851
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1746-1561
pISSN - 0022-4391
DOI - 10.1111/j.1746-1561.1997.tb03418.x
Subject(s) - asthma , medicine , exercise induced asthma , absenteeism , physical therapy , bronchospasm , test (biology) , psychology , social psychology , paleontology , biology
This study documented the prevalence of exercise‐induced asthma (bronchospasm) in rural elementary schools and described the use of a free‐running asthma screening test (exercise‐challenge) and peak expiratory flow rate measurement for screening in a school setting. Of 437 children screened, 25 (5.72%) had a ≥ 15% decrease in post‐exercise peak expiratory flow rate which is indicative of exercise‐induced asthma. Absenteeism and poverty were associated with findings of exercise‐induced asthma. Early detection of exercise‐induced asthma in school‐age children through screening would facilitate early treatment, enhance exercise‐related activities, and decrease school absences.