Prevention of meteoropathic reactions in children with bronchial asthma

Abstract

Due to the increasing prevalence of bronchial asthma in children and a more severe course of the disease, prevention, treatment, and medical rehabilitation of such children becomes relevant. Reduced resistance of the organism to changing meteorological conditions is accompanied by the development of pathological meteotropic (meteoropathic) reactions. Meteoprophylaxis using the method of interval hypoxic training contributes to reducing the frequency and severity of meteoropathic reactions and improving the functional state of the respiratory system and psychological status. Materials and methods. 80 children with increased weather sensitivity were examined: the main group consisted of 40 children who received normobaric hypoxia therapy; the comparison group consisted of 40 children who did not receive normobaric hypoxia therapy. The study of the influence of normobaric hypoxia therapy in dynamics on the clinical course of bronchial asthma, indicators of the pulmonary function (computer flowmetry), and psychoemotional status was carried out. Results and discussion. The beneficial effect of normobaric hypoxia therapy on the clinical course (reduction of dry paroxysmal cough and dry wheezing) was revealed. A statistically significant increase in the indices of the pulmonary function was obtained (peak expiratory flow rate, MEF75 (p < 0.05)). The data from the results of psychological testing revealed a decrease in irritability, emotional lability, and anxiety, normalization of activity levels, and increased performance in children under the influence of normobaric hypoxia therapy. In most children, the manifestations of weather sensitivity decreased, and the severity structure of weather-related exacerbations changed: reactions of moderate severity decreased, while severe manifestations of meteoropathology practically disappeared. Conclusions. Based on the conducted studies, the types and seasonal patterns in the formation of biotropic weather conditions in the Moscow metropolis, which are a risk factor in the development of weather-related exacerbations and manifestations of increased weather sensitivity in children with bronchial asthma, were identified, and the frequency of formation of increased meteorolability in such patients was determined.The effectiveness of normobaric hypoxia therapy as a method of preventing meteoropathic reactions in children with bronchial asthma has been established.