Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0392680 (shortness of breath)
 5,217 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

A cross sectional epidemiological study was carried out to investigate the validity of persistent nocturnal cough (PNC) as an independent marker of childhood asthma. A screening questionnaire on respiratory symptoms was applied to 4003 children attending primary schools in Aberdeen, after which 799 symptomatic children and a random selection of 229 asymptomatic children were invited to attend for a diagnostic interview. Six hundred and seven (359 boys and 248 girls) symptomatic children and 135 asymptomatic children (57 boys and 78 girls) were selected from the screening questionnaires. Of 607 children with respiratory symptoms when interviewed, 27 (nine boys and 18 girls) had isolated PNC, and 97 (51 boys and 46 girls) had multiple symptoms (polysymptomatic asthma). The incidence of prematurity was highest in the group with PNC (19%). The prevalence of hay fever in children with PNC (11%) was similar to that of the asymptomatic group (15%) and less than that in the group with polysymptomatic asthma (41%). Eczema was twice as common in the PNC (19%) as in the asymptomatic children (10%) but only half as common in the polysymptomatic asthma group (35%). The prevalence of a parental history of hay fever was similar in all three groups. The prevalence of a parental history of eczema was similar in the PNC (7%) and asymptomatic (7%) groups but higher in the polysymptomatic asthma group (22%). The prevalence of a history of parental asthma was 30% in children with PNC, 13% in the asymptomatic group, and 42% in those with polysymptomatic asthma. The parents of three (11%) children with PNC were aware of a diagnosis of asthma; two of these children (7%) were on inhaled bronchodilator treatment and one (4%) was on a slow release theophylline preparation. Using a stepwise discriminant analysis procedure, in 18 (67%) children with PNC predicted membership was in the asymptomatic group and only nine (33%) children with PNC were grouped into the polysymptomatic asthma category. It is concluded that the clinical features of children with PNC resembled those of the asymptomatic population more closely than those of the polysymptomatic asthmatic population. In this age group PNC, in the absence of wheeze, shortness of breath or tightness in the chest, is likely to be a manifestation of atypical or hidden asthma in only a minority of cases.
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PMID:Persistent nocturnal cough in childhood: a population based study. 886 6

We examined how chronic respiratory symptoms, reported in a questionnaire, and results of skin prick tests and spirometry predicted variability in peak expiratory flow (PEF) among 6-12-yr-old children (n = 1,854). After characterization with skin tests and spirometry, children were followed for 2-3 mo during the winter of 1993-1994. Peak expiratory flow was measured daily in the morning and evenings. Children with asthmatic symptoms (wheeze and/or attacks of shortness of breath with wheeze in the past 12 mo and/or ever doctor diagnosed asthma) had a greater variation in PEF than children with dry nocturnal cough as their only chronic respiratory symptom. Similarly, doctor-diagnosed asthma was associated with a greater variation in PEF, also among children with asthmatic symptoms. Peak flow variability increased with an increasing number of symptoms reported in the questionnaire. Atopy, positive skin test reactions to house dust mite and cat and lowered level (as % of predicted) in FEV1 and in MMEF were also associated with an increased variation in PEF. All the differences were observed in both diurnal and day-to-day variation in PEF. In conclusion, chronic respiratory symptoms reported in a questionnaire, spirometric lung function and skin prick test results among asthmatic children predicted variation in PEF measured during a 2-3 mo follow-up. The difference in morning PEF coefficient of variation (CV) between children with asthmatic symptoms and children with cough only was somewhat bigger in girls than in boys. The effect of atopy on morning PEF CV was somewhat bigger in young than in older children.
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PMID:Chronic respiratory symptoms, skin test results, and lung function as predictors of peak flow variability. 930 92

Introduction: Occupational use of cleaning chemicals has been related to asthma in adults. However, little information is available on the effect of non-occupational use of cleaning products during pregnancy on childhood asthma. This study examines the association between prenatal exposure to cleaning and scented products with childhood asthma, asthma symptoms, and mental and developmental comorbidities among low-income families in Karachi, Pakistan. Methods: Four hundred children from the Koohi Goth Women's Hospital were included in the study. Parents' or guardians reported current asthma, asthma-related symptoms, mental health problems, and behavioral problems among the children. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between the use of cleaning and scented products during pregnancy and seven different outcome variables. Results: The odds of nocturnal cough were significantly elevated among children whose mothers reported the use of cleaning products (OR: 2.23, 95% CI: 1.15-4.31) or scented products (OR: 2.15, 95% CI: 1.22-3.77) during pregnancy. Mental health comorbidities were threefold elevated (OR: 3.05, 95% CI: 1.74-5.35) among children whose mothers reported using scented products during pregnancy. There was no statistically significant association of the prenatal use of cleaning or scented products with current asthma status or nocturnal symptoms of wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness among children. Conclusions: The study results indicate prenatal exposure to cleaning and scented products is associated with nocturnal cough among children. The study also suggests an association between prenatal use of scented products and mental health comorbidities among children.
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PMID:Prenatal use of cleaning and scented products and its association with childhood asthma, asthma symptoms, and mental health and developmental comorbidities. 3144 30