Comparative characteristics of bronchial obstruction formation trigger mechanisms in children with bronchial asthma and recurrent obstructive bronchitis

Aim. To study the comparative characteristics of the causative significant factors involved in the bronchial obstruction development in children with bronchial asthma and recurrent obstructive bronchitis.

Methods. A cross-sectional (transversal) study of 50 children with bronchial asthma, 38 children with recurrent obstructive bronchitis was conducted. The differences and similarities of etiopathogenetic factors of the bronchial obstruction occurrence were revealed. According to medical history, in all patients regardless of the severity and duration of the disease at the time of examination, the impact of the factors, acting as triggers of bronchial asthma, according to patients, such as infectious agents, infectious allergens and aeroallergens, nighttime, climatic conditions deterioration, physical and/or emotional stress, was registered.

Results. The main triggers that influence the bronchial obstruction occurrence in children with asthma were infectious factors impact, allergens and aeroallergens, and in patients with recurrent obstructive bronchitis more important in the bronchial obstruction development were infectious agents and weather conditions worsening (high humidity, fog, rain). However, unlike the other factors involved in the bronchial obstruction development in asthma, nighttime, allergens and aeroallergens did not have significant impact on the bronchial obstruction occurrence in children with recurrent obstructive bronchitis. In both groups, physical stress (jogging, gymnastics) and emotional stress (loud laugh, crying) contributed to the bronchial obstruction syndrome development with the corresponding clinical picture, but in the second group of children with recurrent obstructive bronchitis duration of cough lasted 2 times less (1-1,5 h) than in children with bronchial asthma (over 3 hours).

Conclusion. Conducted comparative characteristics showed that there is a clear link with the trigger mechanisms of bronchial obstruction occurrence in bronchial asthma and recurrent obstructive bronchitis, and triggers, regardless of the severity and duration of disease, have the same effect on the recurrent obstructive bronchitis outcome.