Factors Affecting Bronchial Hyperreactivity in Asthmatic Children

Bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR), the exaggerated airway narrowing in response to nonspesific stimuli, is a common characteristic of asthma. One hundred thirty-five children who were diagnosed asthma in the outpatient clinic of Gazi University Hospital, Pediatric Allergy and Asthma Department between January 2007 and January 2008 were retrospectively analysed from the asthma database of the division. BHR was not found to be different according to sex. Younger the age of the patient, more severe was BHR (p = 0.096, r = 0.164). Younger the age at onset of the symptoms, the more severe was the BHR (p 0.001, r = 0.307). Patients who had an asthmatic first degree relative and who were exposed to passive smoking at home, had more severe BHR (p = 0.006 and p = 0.032, respectively). There were more hospitalizations among the asthmatic children with moderate-severe BHR (p = 0.027) however no correlation was found between chronic asthma severity and the degree of BHR). In this study we found that age, age at onset of symptoms, having a parent with asthma, exposure to tobacco smoke and baseline lung function are related to BHR measured at referral. Serum levels of Ig E or skin prick test positivity were not found to have any effect on BHR severity. Considering BHR severity, we could not reveal any relation between atopic and nonatopic children. However among atopic subjects, the ones with indoor allergen sensitization had more severe BHR.