[Significance of measurement of the oscillatory resistance to respiration in children. (author's transl)].

The oscillatory resistance to respiration (Ros) was measured in 218 children and 260 adults using the Siregnost FD5 (Siemens, Erlangen), and compared with whole body plethysmography (Raw) and with spirometry. There was a markedly better correlation between Ros and Raw (r=0.82;n=88) in children than in adults (r=0.53;n=260). Whereas additional recording of the phase angle in children does not yield any substantial additional information, it is of diagnostic importance in adults. Comparison of Ros with the spirometric values yielded the following sequence of decreasing correlation coefficients (linear regression): FEV1.0, PEF, V 75, MMEF, V 50, V 25, whereas in adults these relationships cannot be described by means of a linear correlation. The results enable us to conclude that in paediatric pneumology an alternative use of whole-body plethysmography and of oscillatory method appears justified.