Study On Lung Function Test Via Tidal Breathing In Children

Objective To establish the normal level of lung function test via tidal breathing in children who are pre-school age, and study the lung function changes of children with asthma or pneumonia via tidal breathing. It provides the dependable basis, so lung function test via tidal breathing in children become the normal examination.Methods Lung function test was measured using the tidal breathing pattern in eighty-nine children (3-7years old) with asthma (asthmatic group) and eighty-eight children (3-7years old) with pneumonia (pneumonia group) who were treated in Suzhou Children's Hospital from August 2002 to June 2003 by Vmax26. Ninety-three healthy children (normal group) at the same age were used as controls. And Tidal Breathing Volume Loop was painted.Results (1) The normal level of lung function test via tidal breathing has been established in children who are pre-school age. (2) RR increased; TI, TE, TPTEF, TI/TE, TPTEF/TE and VPTEF/VE decreased; MIF increased; MEF, TEF25 and VPTEF decreased in children with asthma. There is significant difference in RR, TI, TE, TPTEF, TI/TE, %V-PF, TEF25, TPTEF/TE and VPTEF/VE between the asthmatic group and normal group(P<0.05). There is no significant difference in MIF, MEF and PTEF between the asthmatic group and normal group(P>0.05). (3) RR increased; TI, TE, TI/TE and TPTEF/TE decreased; MIF, MEF, TEF25, TPTEF and VPTEF decreased in children with pneumonia. There is significant difference in RR, VT/kg, %V-PF, PTEF and 25/PF between the pneumonia group and the normal group (P<0.01). There is no significant difference in MIF, MEF between the pneumonia group and the normal group (P>0.05). (4) The TFV loop of the healthy children is oval. The falling line of pneumonia patients and asthma patients is steeper than that of the healthy children. The more severe the obstruction, the steeper the slope will be and the falling line will besunken.Conclusion Lung function test via tidal breathing in children can definite whether airway is obstructed, where it is obstructed and how serious it is damaged, make us understand severity of lung disease and damage of lung function in children, and offer objective clinical index for effects of therapy. The lung function test has no damage, and requires no children co-operation. The tidal breathing method only needs quiet respiration and is simple and applicable to the children who can't co-operate. The lung function test has higher value for evaluation the severity of the children with pneumonia and asthma and offers the valid criteria in prevention and cure of pneumonia and asthma in clinic.