Prevalence of tidal expiratory flow limitation in preschool children with and without respiratory symptoms: application of the negative expiratory pressure (NEP) method

Abstract

Forty two children were studied, i.e., 25 children with different respiratory symptoms (R) and 17 without any respiratory symptoms (NR). Children were examined without any sedation.

A preset NEP of –5 cm H2O was applied; its duration did not exceed duration of tidal expiration. A significance of FL was judged by determining of a flow-limited range (in % of tidal volume).

FL was found in 48% children of R group. No patient of the NR group elicited FL (P<0.001).

Keywords

• preschool children
• respiratory disorders
• expiratory flow limitation
• negative expiratory pressure technique