OUTCOME OF CHILDREN WITH RESPIRATORY SYMPTOMS WITHOUT OBJECTIVE EVIDENCE OF ASTHMA - A 2-YEAR, PROSPECTIVE, FOLLOW-UP-STUDY

This study evaluated the outcome of 33 children with asthma-like sympt oms without objective evidence of asthma, and the role of certain fact ors in predicting the development of clinical asthma in these children . Data on symptom histories, lung functions (flow-volume spirometry, f ree running test and methacholine inhalation challenge test) and atopi c sensitization (skin prick tests and markers of eosinophilic inflamma tion) were collected twice with an interval of 2 y, and the diagnoses were re-evaluated after the follow-up period. Based on the results, it was concluded that one-third of the children with prolonged or recurr ent lower airway symptoms, such as cough or wheeze, either have mild a sthma or will develop asthma in the near future. Children who had a si gnificant response [greater than or equal to 10% fall in forced expira tory volume in is (FEV1)] in the free running test formed a risk group for active asthma, whereas other baseline characteristics seemed not to predict the outcome.