[The broncho-obstructive syndrome in adolescents as a stage in the development of chronic bronchitis]

As many as 544 adolescents (268 boys and 276 girls) were examined. Using pneumotachometry and spirography, bronchial patency disorders were identified in 19.8 +/- 2.4% of normal adolescents with no factors at risk for chronic nonspecific pulmonary diseases, in 41.2 +/- 4.2% of patients with acute respiratory virus infection (ARVI), in 54.0 +/- 5.3% of tobacco smokers, in 44.7 +/- 8.1% of patients who frequently fall ill with ARVI, acute bronchitis and pneumonia, and in 50.0 +/- 12.5% of patients afflicted with grade II scoliosis or kyphoscoliosis of the thoracic vertebrae. In normal adolescents without risk factors, distal disorders of bronchial patency were encountered in 5.6 +/- 1.4% of cases, in ARVI patients in 7.4 +/- 2.2%, and in tobacco smokers, in 18.4 +/- 4.2% of cases. In a lot of adolescents, the broncho-obstructive disorders were steady in nature, dictating the necessity of carrying out the treatment and health measures. Pneumotachometry may be recommended for detecting bronchial patency disorders during prophylactic examinations of adolescents.