Can the Childhood Physical Activity Questionnaire Be Used to Identify Physical Activity Levels in Children With Asthma?

Children with asthma who are physically active have a better quality of life, emphasizing the importance of activity monitoring and promotion in daily life. The validity of self-reported activity measurements has been questioned in pediatric populations. In this study, we aim to compare the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Children (PAQ-C) with objectively measured PA using accelerometry.

Feasibility, Efficacy, and Efficiency of eHealth-Supported Pediatric Asthma Care: Six-Month Quasi-Experimental Single-Arm Pretest-Posttest Study.

Background: Early detection of loss of asthma control can effectively reduce the burden of the disease. However, broad implementation in clinical practice has not been accomplished so far. We are in need of research investigating the operationalization of eHealth pediatric asthma care in practice, which can provide the most potential benefits in terms of adoption, efficiency, and effectiveness.

Assessing paediatric exercise-induced bronchoconstriction using electromyography.

Background: Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases in childhood, occurring in up to 10% of all children. Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) is indicative of uncontrolled asthma and can be assessed using an exercise challenge test (ECT). However, this test requires children to undergo demanding repetitive forced breathing manoeuvres.

Assessing Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction in Children; The Need for Testing.

Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) is a specific morbidity of childhood asthma and a sign of insufficient disease control. EIB is diagnosed and monitored based on lung function changes after a standardized exercise challenge test (ECT). In daily practice however, EIB is often evaluated with self-reported respiratory symptoms and spirometry.

BMI predicts exercise induced bronchoconstriction in asthmatic boys.

Background: Exercise induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) is a frustrating morbidity of asthma in children. Obesity has been associated with asthma and with more severe EIB in asthmatic children.

Objectives: To quantify the effect of BMI on the risk of the occurrence of EIB in children with asthma.

Can a single dose response predict the effect of montelukast on exercise-induced bronchoconstriction?

Rationale: Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) can be prevented by a single dose of montelukast (MLK). The effect is variable, similar to the variable responsiveness observed after daily treatment with MLK. We hypothesized that the effect of a single MLK-dose (5 or 10 mg) on EIB could predict the clinical effectiveness of longer term once daily treatment.

The effect of nebulized salbutamol or isotonic saline on exercise-induced bronchoconstriction in elite skaters following a 1,500-meter race: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Prevalence of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) is high in elite athletes, especially after many years training in cold and dry air conditions. The primary treatment of EIB is inhaling a short-acting beta-2-agonist such as salbutamol. However, professional speed skaters also inhale nebulized isotonic saline or tap water before and after a race or intense training.

Where to from here for exercise-induced bronchoconstriction: the unanswered questions.

The role of epithelial injury is an unanswered question in those with established asthma and in elite athletes who develop features of asthma and exercise-induced bronchorestriction (EIB) after years of training. The movement of water in response to changes in osmolarity is likely to be an important signal to the epithelium that may be central to the onset of EIB. It is generally accepted that the mast cell and its mediators play a major role in EIB and the presence of eosinophils is likely to enhance EIB severity.

Assessment of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction in adolescents and young children.

Recent research shows important differences in exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) between children and adults, suggesting a different pathophysiology of EIB in children. Although exercise can trigger classic symptoms of asthma, in children symptoms can be subtle and nonspecific; parents, children, and clinicians often do not recognize EIB. With an age-adjusted protocol, an exercise challenge test can be performed in children as young as 3 years of age.

Inspiratory airflow limitation after exercise challenge in cold air in asthmatic children.

Methacholine and histamine can lead to inspiratory flow limitation in asthmatic children and adults. This has not been analyzed after indirect airway stimuli, such as exercise. The aim of the study was to analyze airflow limitation after exercise in cold, dry air.

Effect of an intranasal corticosteroid on exercise induced bronchoconstriction in asthmatic children.

Rationale: Allergic rhinitis and exercise induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) are common in asthmatic children. The aim of this study was to investigate whether treatment of allergic rhinitis with an intranasal corticosteroid protects against EIB in asthmatic children.

Methods: This was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel group study.

Monitoring pulmonary function during exercise in children with asthma.

Objective: Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) is defined as acute, reversible bronchoconstriction induced by physical exercise. It is widely believed that EIB occurs after exercise. However, in children with asthma the time to maximal bronchoconstriction after exercise is short, suggesting that the onset of EIB in such children occurs during exercise.

Association of the asthma control questionnaire with exercise-induced bronchoconstriction.

Introduction: Asthma is a common chronic disease in childhood which features bronchial hyperresponsiveness to exercise (EIB). In daily clinical practice, the report of EIB is used to assess the level of control of asthma. The asthma control questionnaire (ACQ) is a tool to evaluate the control of asthma in children.

The effect of stepping down combination therapy on airway hyperresponsiveness to mannitol.

Rationale: Controversy exists about the safety of long acting beta2-agonist (LABA) treatment, in particular in children. Combination therapy with a LABA and an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) is prescribed to children with moderate asthma and can be stepped down by withdrawal of the LABA when asthma is well controlled.

Objective: To analyze the effect of stepping down from LABA/ICS combination therapy to monotherapy with the same dose of ICS on the airway response to mannitol in asthmatic children.

Mannitol and exercise challenge tests in asthmatic children.

Background: Bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR), a characteristic feature of asthma, can be assessed through standardized bronchial provocation tests (BPT). Exercise as a BPT is used in diagnosing and monitoring exercise induced bronchoconstriction (EIB). Recently a novel osmotic BPT has been developed, using dry powder mannitol.