OBJECTIVEChronic cough in children is a common pediatric symptom with complex causes and its diagnosis is difficult; chronic cough affects the life of children in both physical and mental health and also learning. Therefore this study aimed to investigate the causes of chronic cough in children in Fuzhou area of Fujian province.

METHODData were collected from 364 children with chronic cough who visited the asthma specialist clinic of Children's Hospital of Fuzhou, Fujian Province from March 2009 to April 2010. The diagnosis was made according to Guideline for Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Cough in Pediatrics published in 2008. Among the patients, 241 were boys and 123 girls. The patients were divided into 3 age groups: group 1, 1 to 3 years old (infants and young children group, n = 75); group 2, 4 to 6 years old (pre-school group, n = 215); and group 3, over 7 years (school-age group, n = 74), the mean age was (4.8 ± 1.1) years (3 months to 14 years), course of the illness was (4.5 ± 1.8) months (4 weeks to 38 months). Mycoplasma pneumoniae was detected by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTThe causes of chronic cough were as follows: 171 cases (46.98%) had cough variant asthma; 104 cases (28.57%) had upper airway cough syndrome; 58 cases (15.93%) had respiratory infections; 17 cases (4.67%) had gastroesophageal reflux; 3 cases (0.82%) had foreign bodies. Totally 9 cases (2.47%) had chronic cough associated with 3 causes; 56 cases (15.38%) had 2 causes and 299 cases (82.14%) had single cause. The main causes of cough in the group of pre-school children were cough variant asthma and upper airway cough syndrome. The proportion of the upper airway cough syndrome in school-age children group was the highest among the 3 age groups, which is flowed by cough variant asthma.

CONCLUSIONThe causes of chronic cough in children were cough variant asthma, upper airway cough syndrome, respiratory infections, cough after infection, gastroesophageal reflux and foreign bodies in Fuzhou area of Fujian province. Children with chronic cough in different age groups had different etiology, in about 18% of the children the etiology of chronic cough was associated with 3 or 2 causes, indicating that the causes of chronic cough in children are multifactorial.

Adolescent ; Asthma ; complications ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Chronic Disease ; Cough ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infection ; complications ; Male

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between associating factors of moderate to severe asthma with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and sixty-seven patients who visited the pulmonary and sleep clinic in Severance Hospital presenting with symptoms of sleep-disordered breathing were evaluated. All subjects were screened with ApneaLink. Thirty-two subjects with a high likelihood of having OSA were assessed with full polysomnography (PSG). RESULTS: The mean age was 58.8+/-12.0 years and 58.7% of subjects were male. The mean ApneaLink apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was 12.7+/-13.0/hr. The mean ApneaLink AHI for the 32 selected high risk patients of OSA was 22.3+/-13.2/hr, which was lower than the sleep laboratory-based PSG AHI of 39.1+/-20.5/hr. When OSA was defined at an ApneaLink AHI > or =5/hr, the positive correlating factors for OSA were age, male gender, and moderate to severe asthma. CONCLUSION: Moderate to severe asthma showed strong correlation with OSA when defined at an ApneaLink AHI > or =5/hr.
Aged ; Asthma/complications/epidemiology/*etiology ; Comorbidity ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polysomnography/instrumentation ; Severity of Illness Index ; Sleep Apnea Syndromes/epidemiology/etiology ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive/complications/epidemiology/*physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo establish the evidence of exposure to rural areas would reduce the risk of atopic asthma and sensitization.

METHODSA cross-sectional survey was carried out in 2986 school-age children and their parents completed standardized questionnaires on atopic asthma and sensitization, wheezing. A radioallergosorbent technique-fluorescence enzyme immunoassay (RAST-FEIA) was used to measure the level of specific IgE in serum.

RESULTSThe risks of atopic and non-atopic asthma (OR = 0.45, 95% CI:0.13-0.96 and OR=0.41, 95% CI:0.15-0.95), atopic sensitization. and wheezing (OR= 0.32, 95% CI:0.11-0.62; OR =0.44, 95% CI:0.13-0.91) were lower in subjects living in village area compared with those living in towns. The risks of atopic asthma and sensitization were lower in subjects exposed to stables in first year (OR=0.23, 95% CI:0.04-0.91 and OR =0.32, 95% CI:0.17-0.78) and were lowest in those exposed continually until the age of 6 (OR = 0.21, 95% CI:0.03-0.87 and OR = 0.31, 95% CI:0.15-0.78) compared with those non-exposed in the first 6 years.

CONCLUSIONExposure to rural environment might have a protective effect on children against atopic asthma and sensitization while continual exposure could strengthen the effects.

Anaphylaxis ; complications ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Asthma ; epidemiology ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Child ; China ; Environmental Exposure ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Rural Population ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Anti-Asthmatic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Asthma ; epidemiology ; etiology ; therapy ; Body Mass Index ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Chronic Disease ; Humans ; Obesity ; complications ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo understand allergic diseases related factors in Changzheng Town, Putuo District infants and young children.

METHODPregnant women registered in Putuo District, Changzheng Town Community Health Service Center Child Health Clinic within the period from January to December, 2008 were enrolled into this survey, a questionnaire survey. The infants were followed up from birth to 2 years of age. The mother and child survey was conducted for 746 pairs, and 684 pairs had complete data. SAS V9.1 statistical software was used for data processing and statistical analysis.

RESULTThe survey showed that prevalence of eczema, allergic rash, and wheezing was 27.9%, 18.9%, and 3.9%, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that allergy in either parent and addition of foods other than milk in infants before 4 months of age were risk factors for eczema; allergy in either parent was also risk factors for allergic rash. Exclusive breastfeeding from birth to 6 months of age was a protective factor for wheezing in infants. Other factors such as parental history of asthma, vitamin supplements to the mothers during pregnancy, mothers' special diet habits, calcium level of infants, etc. had no significant correlation with allergic disorders in infants.

CONCLUSIONThe risk factors for allergic disorders in infants included allergy in either parent and dietary factors of the infants themselves (prematurely adding other foods). Breastfeeding (for 0 - 6 months of age) was a protective factor for infants' wheezing.

Adult ; Asthma ; epidemiology ; etiology ; genetics ; Breast Feeding ; Cohort Studies ; Eczema ; epidemiology ; etiology ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; complications ; epidemiology ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Multivariate Analysis ; Parents ; Pregnancy ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: Many epidemiological studies have investigated environmental risk factors for the development of acoustic neuroma. However, these results are controversial. We conducted a meta-analysis of case-control studies to identify any potential relationship between history of noise exposure, smoking, allergic diseases, and risk of acoustic neuroma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We searched PubMed to identify relevant articles. Two researchers evaluated the eligibility and extracted the data independently. RESULTS: Eleven case-control studies were included in our meta-analysis. Acoustic neuroma was found to be associated with leisure noise exposure [odds ratio (OR)=1.33, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.05-1.68], but not with occupational noise exposure and ever noise exposure (OR=1.20, 95% CI: 0.84-1.72 and OR=1.15, 95% CI: 0.80-1.65). The OR of acoustic neuroma for ever (versus never) smoking was 0.53 (95% CI: 0.30-0.94), while the subgroup analysis indicated ORs of 0.95 (95% CI: 0.81-1.10) and 0.49 (95% CI: 0.41-0.59) for ex-smoker and current smoker respectively. The ORs for asthma, eczema, and seasonal rhinitis were 0.98 (95% CI: 0.80-1.18), 0.91 (95% CI: 0.76-1.09), and 1.52 (95% CI: 0.90-2.54), respectively. CONCLUSION: Our meta-analysis is suggestive of an elevated risk of acoustic neuroma among individuals who were ever exposed to leisure noise, but not to occupational noise. Our study also indicated a lower acoustic neuroma risk among ever and current cigarette smokers than never smokers, while there was no significant relationship for ex-smokers. No significant associations were found between acoustic neuroma and history of any allergic diseases, such as asthma, eczema, and seasonal rhinitis.
Adult ; Asthma/complications ; Environmental Exposure/*adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; *Leisure Activities ; Neuroma, Acoustic/epidemiology/*etiology ; Noise/*adverse effects ; Occupational Exposure/adverse effects ; Risk Factors ; Smoking/adverse effects

BACKGROUND: Eosinophilic inflammation of the airway is usually associated with airway hyper-responsiveness in bronchial asthma. However, there is a small group of patients which has the eosinophilic inflammation in the bronchial tree with normal spirometry and no evidence of airway hyper-responsiveness, which was named eosinophilic bronchitis. The objectives of this study are 1) to investigate the incidence of eosinophilic bronchitis in the chronic cough syndrome and 2) to evaluate the clinical features and course of eosinophilic bronchitis. METHODS: We evaluated 92 patients who had persistent cough for 3 weeks or longer. In addition to routine diagnostic protocol, we performed differential cell count of sputum. Eosinophilic bronchitis was diagnosed when the patient had normal spirometric values, normal peak expiratory flow variability, no airway hyper-responsiveness and sputum eosinophilia (>3%). RESULTS: The causes of chronic cough were post-nasal drip in 33%, cough variant asthma in 16%, chronic bronchitis in 15% and eosinophilic bronchitis in 12% of the study subjects. Initial eosinophil percentage in the sputum of patients with eosinophilic bronchitis was 26.8+/-6.1% (3.8-63.7%). Treatment with inhaled steroid is related with a subjective improvement of cough severity and a significant decrease of sputum eosinophil percentage (from 29.1+/-8.3% to 7.4+/-3.3%). During the follow-up period, increase in sputum eosinophil percentage with aggravation of symptoms were found. CONCLUSION: Eosinophilic bronchitis is one of the important cause of chronics cough. Assessment of airway inflammation by sputum examination is important in investigating the cause of chronic cough. Cough in eosinophilic bronchitis is effectively controlled by inhaled corticosteroid, but may follow a chronic course.
Adult ; Aged ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Steroidal/therapeutic use ; Asthma/complications/epidemiology ; Bronchitis/*complications/diagnosis/drug therapy/epidemiology ; Budesonide/therapeutic use ; Chronic Disease ; Cough/epidemiology/*etiology ; Eosinophilia/*complications/diagnosis/drug therapy/epidemiology ; Female ; Gastroesophageal Reflux/complications/epidemiology ; Human ; Male ; Middle Age ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Severity of Illness Index ; Sputum/chemistry/immunology

The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis, as well as the risk factors of wheezing among young adults in the Korean military. Young military conscripts in five areas completed a modified International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire. For subjects with current wheeze in one sample area, baseline spirometry and bronchodilator response were measured. For subjects without a significant response to bronchodilator (improvement in FEV1 of more than 200 mL and 12%), methacholine challenge tests (MCT) were also performed. Of 3,359 subjects that completed the questionnaire, 354 (10.5%) had current wheeze, 471 (14.0%) had current allergic rhinitis, and 326 (9.7%) had current eczema. Current wheeze was associated with family history of allergic disease, overweight, current smoking, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis. Of 36 subjects with current wheeze who underwent PFT with or without MCT in the Anyang area, 24 (66.7%) were confirmed to have current asthma. In conclusion, the prevalence of allergic disease in young adults of Korean military is not low, and the risk factors of wheezing include family history of allergic disease, overweight, current smoking, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis.
Adult ; Asthma/*complications/epidemiology/*immunology ; Bronchial Provocation Tests ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity/*epidemiology/*immunology ; *Military Personnel ; Prevalence ; Questionnaires ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Respiratory Sounds/*etiology ; Risk Factors ; Young Adult

To validate the prevalence rate of symptoms of asthma produced by the phase I ISAAC (International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood) study, hypertonic saline challenge test was carried out during the phase II study at a year after the phase I study. For the phase II study, six middle schools from three cities in the phase I study were selected. Finally, 499 children who responded to both studies were analyzed. All subjects were asked to complete the written questionnaire (WQ) first, followed by a video questionnaire (AVQ 3.0) during the phase I study. Of the 499 children, only 19 (3.8%) were positive to the hypertonic saline bronchial challenge test. The degree of agreement between responses to the two corresponding questions "wheezing at rest" and "nocturnal wheeze" in the AVQ 3.0 and WQ were moderate and weak with a Kappa indices of 0.45 and 0.23, respectively. The question on "severe wheeze" in the AVQ 3.0 had the highest Youden's index among the five questions related to asthma symptoms in the previous 12 months, but its specificity was low whereas it 's sensitivity was 1.0. There was no consistency of priority between the two questionnaires in predicting bronchial hyperreactivity in a group of Korean schoolchildren. Therefore we need to develop more appropriate WQ or AVQ to compare the prevalences of asthma to other countries.
Adolescent ; Asthma/diagnosis* ; Asthma/epidemiology ; Asthma/etiology ; Bronchial Hyperreactivity/complications ; Bronchial Hyperreactivity/diagnosis* ; Bronchial Hyperreactivity/epidemiology ; Bronchial Provocation Tests ; Comparative Study ; Female ; Human ; Korea/epidemiology ; Language ; Male ; Prevalence ; Questionnaires* ; Random Allocation ; Respiratory Sounds ; Saline Solution, Hypertonic/diagnostic use ; Sampling Studies ; Videotape Recording ; Writing

OBJECTIVETo study the prevalence, epidemiological characteristics, and risk factors for childhood asthma in Yichang City, China and to collect evidence for the early diagnosis and preventive treatment of asthma.

METHODSPreliminary screening questionnaires were distributed to more than 90% of children in 5 kindergartens, 10 primary and secondary schools, and 5 communities in Yichang City to detect children with suspected asthma. These surveyed children were selected by cluster random sampling. A further questionnaire survey was conducted for suspected cases. Meanwhile, a similar number of sex- and age-matched non-asthmatic children were selected for the case-control study. Information from returned questionnaires was entered into a database for statistical analysis.

RESULTSA total of 11 000 questionnaires were distributed, and 10 456 (95.1%) questionnaires were returned. The prevalence rate of asthma among children in Yichang was 3.47%, significantly higher in boys than in girls (P<0.05). A total of 107 out of 363 children with asthma had a history of drug allergy, and 152 cases had a family history of allergy. The majority of asthmatic children had irregular onset-prone seasons and hours. Respiratory tract infections were the most common trigger of asthma attacks, accounting for 93.1% of all onsets; family history of allergy, history of early use of antibiotics, history of housing renovation, and history of passive smoking were the major risk factors for asthma.

CONCLUSIONSPrevention of respiratory tract infections may reduce the frequency of asthma attacks; reducing the use of antibiotics during early childhood, decreasing the frequency of housing renovation, and advocating for smoking cessation among parents have preventive effects on asthma.

Adolescent ; Asthma ; epidemiology ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Body Mass Index ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Prevalence ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; complications ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires