The effect of nasal breathing on the exercise induced bronchospasm in children with allergic asthma and rhinitis

Abstract

Background Allergic rhinitis (AR) is very common in children and it affects 10–40% of children world-wide. Asthma and AR commonly coexist and we can find up to 30% of asthma in patients with AR and up to 90% of AR in patients with asthma. Moreover, these two disorders seem to influence each other’s activity and intensity. Physical activity is commonly prescribed as a rehabilitation treatment for asthma in children although there is a high percentage of asthmatics with exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB) at that age and recent studies show beneficial effects of aerobic training on allergic inflammation. EIB can be one of the reasons for low adherence to physical training. The aim of this study was to test if a nose clip during a 6 minute free running test changes the magnitude of EIB according to the severity of AR. Methods The study was conducted in 55 children (24 girls, mean age 12.6 yrs) with moderate persistent asthma and AR in an Asthma Camp, at island Losinj. Their asthma was controlled under their regular treatment and they were daily participating in an aerobic fitness program. They were divided in two subgroups according to the median of intensity of their nasal symptoms (less nasal symptoms – LNS; more nasal symptoms – MNS). Spirometry was performed before, 3’ and 20’ after 2 exercises (6 minutes free running with and without a nose clip) done a day apart. Results