Cough reflex sensitivity after exercise challenge testing in children with asthma

• Published in: Respiratory physiology & neurobiology Vol. 257; pp. 70 - 74
• Main Authors: Ferenc, P., Fabry, J., Zatko, T., Kunc, P., Sojak, J., Grendar, M., Pecova, R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.11.2018
• Subjects: Adolescent; Asthma; Asthma - complications; Asthma - physiopathology; Capsaicin; Child; Children; Cough; Cough - etiology; Cough - physiopathology; Cough sensitivity; Exercise; Exercise - physiology; Exercise Test; Female; Humans; Male; Prospective Studies; Reflex - physiology; Cough sensitivity; Exercise; Children; Cough; Asthma
• ISSN: 1569-9048; 1878-1519
• DOI: 10.1016/j.resp.2018.03.008

•Children with asthma commonly experience respiratory symptoms after exercise, including coughing.•Cough sensitivity changes after exercise were never studied in a population of children with asthma.•Our study found that cough reflex sensitivity is not influenced by exercise in asthmatic children. Bronchial challenge tests are commonly used in clinical medicine and research. The aim of this study was to clarify changes of cough reflex sensitivity before and after exercise challenge testing in asthma children. 42 asthmatic children were submitted to cough reflex sensitivity measurement – capsaicin aerosol in doubling concentrations (from 0.61 to 1250 micromol/l) was inhaled by a single breath method – before and after exercise challenge testing. Concentrations of capsaicin causing two (C2) and five coughs (C5) were reported. Children' (31 boys and 11 girls, mean age 14.05 ± 2.08 yrs) cough reflex sensitivity (median, with the 95% CI) for C2 was before exercise challenge testing 9.77 (6.10–10.99) micromol/l vs. children' C2 after it 7.32 (6.10–14.65) (P = 0.58 for the Wilcoxon two sample paired test). Children' C5 was before exercise challenge testing 19.53 (14.65–80.57) micromol/l vs. C5 after it 39.06 (24.42–58.59) micromol/l (P = 0.09 for the Wilcoxon two sample paired test). We conclude that cough reflex sensitivity was not significantly changed after exercise challenge testing in children with asthma.