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Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction in children with atopic eczema
Carlo Caffarelli1, Pier Luigi Bacchini, Laura Gruppi
1Dipartimento dell'età evolutiva, Università di Parma, Italy. carlo.caffarelli@unipr.it
Summary
Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) is common in children with atopic eczema (AE), affecting 23% of those studied. Medical history and physical exams are unreliable for detecting EIB in these children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Allergology
- Pulmonology
Background:
- Non-specific bronchial hyper-responsiveness is frequent in children with atopic eczema (AE), even without asthma symptoms.
- Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) is a common manifestation of bronchial hyper-responsiveness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the occurrence of EIB in children with AE.
- To identify predictors of EIB in children with AE.
Main Methods:
- Fifty-five children with AE and 17 healthy controls underwent physical examination, skin prick tests (SPT), and a 6-minute free running exercise challenge test.
- Spirometry was performed before and up to 11 minutes after exercise.
Main Results:
- EIB was diagnosed in 23% of children with AE, compared to 0% in controls (OR = 1.31).
- A history of EIB was reported by 29% of children with AE but was not a reliable predictor of a positive exercise challenge test.
- EIB was not associated with asthma, allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, eczema severity, or SPT results.
Conclusions:
- EIB is prevalent in children with atopic eczema.
- Screening for EIB using medical history and physical examination is not sensitive, potentially leading to underdiagnosis in children with AE.