[Pulse oxymetry in the diagnosis of asthma in children].
BACKGROUND
Asthma is a chronic disease that requires an early diagnosis to avoid the phase of remodelation.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate transcutaneus tension of oxygen in challenge test with distilled water in pediatric patients with asthma.


METHODS
Thirty patients of 1-5 years old were included: 15 with asthma and 15 control healthy subjects. Inclusion criteria were: clinical diagnosis of asthma (cough, respiratory difficulty and wheezes more than three times in the previous year), without using steroids four weeks before the study, or bronchodilators. Exclusion criteria were: respiratory infection and severe disease. A challenge test with cold distilled water was applied and O2 saturation and basal and 5, 10, 15, 20 and 30 minutes heart frequency were measured.


RESULTS
O2 saturation statistically significant decreased from the basal to 5, 10, 15, 20 and 30 minutes; for cases: 96.4 and controls: 97.8, p = 0.00224. Heart frequency did not have a statistic change at basal, 5, 19, 15 and 20 minutes; but it had a statistically significant change at 30 minutes post-challenge (120.7 beats/min in cases vs 112.7 beats/min in controls, p = 0.0127).


CONCLUSIONS
Pulse oxymetry has a significant value and is related to severity of illness.
Reséndiz Gómez
Fabiola
F
Hospital Regional Lic. Adolfo López Mateos, ISSSTE, México, DF. fabiola2102@msn.com
Gómez Vera
Javier
J
Orea Solano
Modesto
M
D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010092:Oximetry