The wheezing schoolchild--an undiagnosed asthmatic. A follow-up of children with parentally reported episodes of wheeze without diagnosed asthma.
OBJECTIVE
To examine children aged 7-15 years with parentally reported episodes of wheeze in order to estimate the proportion of undiagnosed asthmatics in this group.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study with clinical examination of subgroups.


METHODS
All children (n = 832) aged 7-15 years in the municipality of Odda.


METHODS
Based on completed questionnaires, the children were selected to one of four groups: Children with wheeze but no asthma (wheeze group); children with current asthma (asthma group); children with past asthma (past asthma group); and children with neither asthma nor wheeze (control group).


METHODS
Parental reports of episodes of wheeze, assessment of skin prick test sensitivity, measures of lung function and exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB).


RESULTS
In the wheeze group, 3 (7.5%) of 40 children were diagnosed with asthma in the 18-month period between the questionnaire survey and the examination, while 4 (10%) other children had EIB. Another 8 children (20%) reported 3 episodes of wheeze or more, and at least 1 episode during the 12-month period before the clinical examination. Classifying these children as asthmatics would give a proportion of 37.5% with undiagnosed asthma in the wheeze group, and the prevalence of current asthma among children aged 7-15 would rise from 2.9% based on a questionnaire survey to 4.9%. CONCLOSIONS: Using a wide definition of asthma, this study suggests that a large proportion of Norwegian children with wheeze actually have asthma.
Hetlevik
O
O
Community Health Service in Odda, Norway.
Pløen
O
O
Nystad
W
W
Magnus
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D010328:Patch Tests; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires