Evaluation and management of exercise-induced dyspnea in otherwise healthy adolescents and young adults: A critical review

Abstract

Dyspnea on exertion in otherwise healthy adolescents and young adults is often brought to the attention of a pediatric pulmonologist when it interferes with an athletic activity. Assessment of the cause and management has been controversial. Skilled pediatric pulmonologists may suspect the cause from a careful history, but a more definite diagnosis is needed to provide the most appropriate management. Suspecting that laryngeal obstruction is the major cause, continuous laryngoscopy during exercise has been proposed. However, that method tends to over diagnose laryngeal obstruction and does not consider that the larynx is not the major cause of dyspnea on exertion (DOE). The cause of DOE can generally be best identified by a treadmill test using cardiopulmonary monitoring to determine the physiology associated with reproduced symptoms. Management of DOE requires a specific diagnosis and may involve medication, surgery, or education and training.