Subject(s)
Asthma/physiopathology , Camping , Meteorological Concepts , Adolescent , Child , Female , Humans , Male , Respiratory Function TestsABSTRACT
In order to assess diurnal variation of flow-volume curves and to determine whether small airways are involved in the diurnal variation of pulmonary function in asthmatic children, we studied eight asthmatics who were attending an asthma summer camp. Spirometry and maximal expiratory flow-volume curves with air and a helium-oxygen mixture were obtained in the morning and afternoon over a 10-day period. We found that significant increases in maximal expiratory flows at all lung volumes occurred in the afternoon. However, the increase in flows with helium (helium response) was unchanged from morning to afternoon. These results suggest that both large and small airways are involved in the diurnal variation of pulmonary function in asthmatic children.
Subject(s)
Asthma/physiopathology , Circadian Rhythm , Lung/physiopathology , Adolescent , Air , Female , Forced Expiratory Volume , Helium , Humans , Male , Maximal Expiratory Flow-Volume Curves , Oxygen , Spirometry , Vital CapacityABSTRACT
At sea level, it appears that oxygen desaturation does not occur in normal children at night and that the desaturation that occurs in moderately severe asthmatic children with therapeutic levels of theophylline does not approach dangerously low levels.
Subject(s)
Asthma/blood , Oxygen/blood , Sleep , Adolescent , Altitude , Child , Female , Forced Expiratory Volume , Humans , Male , Oximetry/methods , Time Factors , Vital CapacityABSTRACT
During both the 1977 and 1978 eight-week summer sessions at Bronco Junction the effect of oral inhalation of beclomethasone dipropionate and optimum dose theophylline therapy in 56 chronically severe, corticosteroid dependent asthmatic children was evaluated. By the end of the two summer camp sessions 10 of the 56 were able to discontinue the beclomethasone dipropionate therapy, and 33 others were able to reduce their dosage. All but one child were able to discontinue oral prednisone therapy.
Subject(s)
Asthma/drug therapy , Beclomethasone/administration & dosage , Theophylline/administration & dosage , Administration, Intranasal , Adolescent , Beclomethasone/adverse effects , Beclomethasone/therapeutic use , Child , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Female , Humans , Male , Prednisone/therapeutic use , Respiratory Function Tests , Theophylline/therapeutic useABSTRACT
Systematic biofeedback techniques were applied and evaluated in the treatment of chronic bronchial asthma in a summer camp environment during three consecutive summers--1974, 1975 and 1976. From this three-year study the investigators have concluded that biofeedback mediated muscle relaxation training can be a valuable adjunct in the treatment of bronchial asthma.
Subject(s)
Asthma/therapy , Biofeedback, Psychology , Camping , Seasons , Adolescent , Child , Chronic Disease , Electromyography , Evaluation Studies as Topic , Humans , Peak Expiratory Flow RateSubject(s)
Air , Asthma/therapy , Filtration/instrumentation , Adolescent , Child , Female , Humans , Male , Time Factors , VentilationSubject(s)
Asthma/therapy , Conditioning, Operant , Facial Muscles , Muscle Contraction , Acoustic Stimulation , Adolescent , Biofeedback, Psychology , Child , Chronic Disease , Electromyography , Female , Humans , Male , Peak Expiratory Flow RateABSTRACT
Bio-feedback mediated deep muscle relaxation procedures demonstrated significant improvement in 22 asthmatic children attending a summer camp for the care and rehabilitation of asthmatic children. However, caution is expressed in the interpretation of the findings pending a replication of the research with more rigorous controls.