[Relationship between compliance with inhaled corticosteroids and changes in the fraction of exhaled nitric oxide during summer camp for asthmatic children].

Background: Recently, the fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FENO), which can be measured easily and noninvasively even in children, has attracted attention as a method of evaluating airway inflammation. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between compliance with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) before a summer camp for asthmatic children and the changes in the FENO during camp.

Methods: Fifty asthmatic children (26 boys and 24 girls) aged 6-12 years old were recruited from the Fukuoka National Hospital Summer Camp between 2008 and 2010. We measured their FENO on the first and last day of camp. The children were taught appropriate inhalation methods by pediatric pulmonologists and nurses and performed ICS under their supervision every day during the camp. Before the camp, we asked the participants to complete a questionnaire regarding the use of ICS. The participants were classified into four groups according to their adherence to this therapy. The changes in FENO were then examined and compared among the groups.

Results: The FENO measured on the last day of camp was significantly lower than that measured on the first day of camp among children who tended to forget to perform ICS. However, no significant difference in the FENO measurements were observed during the camp, when the children were performing ICS every day.

Conclusion: The FENO decreased significantly after only four days of camp in the poor compliance group. Therefore, teaching children the appropriate method for inhaling ICS is important, especially for children who tend to forget to perform ICS.