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. 1991 Aug;66(8):948–951. doi: 10.1136/adc.66.8.948

Nebulised water as a bronchoconstricting challenge in infancy.

C O'Callaghan 1, A D Milner 1, M S Webb 1, A Swarbrick 1
PMCID: PMC1793476  PMID: 1929490

Abstract

The pulmonary response to inhalation challenge with nebulised distilled water was measured in 100 sedated infants with a history of wheeze. Lung function was measured by total body plethysmography. Satisfactory results were obtained in 88 infants. Fifty one were considered to have responded by developing a greater than 20% decrease in specific conductance (sGaw) after nebulised water. Thirty two of these infants had previously been challenged with nebulised saline before but only one showed a greater than 20% decrease in sGaw after saline. Twenty infants who developed signs of bronchoconstriction after challenge with nebulised water were rechallenged 20 minutes later. After the initial challenge a fall in sGaw of greater than 20% was found in 19 of the 20. After a second challenge with nebulised water only 15 (75%) showed a 20% or greater decrease in sGaw. Nine of the 20 infants remained sedated and were rechallenged for a third time. Eight showed a greater than 20% decrease in sGaw. This study indicates that approximately 60% of infants with a history of wheeze will bronchoconstrict in response to inhaled nebulised water and that up to 75% show no evidence of a subsequent refractory period to inhaled water challenge.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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