Crying-induced bronchospasm in childhood asthma: response to medical management.

Crying-induced bronchospasm (CIB), cough and/or wheeze greater than or equal to 5 minutes during or after crying behavior, is a common feature of childhood asthma. Sixty CIB patients were evaluated during a 6-month clinical treatment study consisting of environmental and pharmacologic (xanthines, beta-agonist stimulants, and corticosteroids) interventions. Both CIB (P = .007) and non-CIB (P = .0005) symptoms were significantly reduced. CIB asthma had lesser reduction in wheezing than non-CIB (P less than .001), suggesting that nebulized medication and/or behavioral interventions may be of benefit to further reduce CIB symptoms.