Exercise-induced asthma in a group of South African schoolchildren during physical education classes.

OBJECTIVES

The study was conducted to ascertain whether physical education teachers, using a peak flow meter, could reliably screen for exercise-induced asthma (EIA) in children during free running.

DESIGN, SETTING AND SUBJECTS: The study was conducted using a convenience sample of male pupils between the ages of 12 and 18 years. They were tested with a peak flow meter for peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) and with a flow-volume curve for forced expiratory flow in 1 second (FEV1) before and 10 minutes after a self-paced free running test during physical education classes. Testing was undertaken by teachers using the peak flow meter and by a medical doctor using a flow-volume curve.

RESULTS

Using a 10% decrease in flow parameters (PEFR and FEV1), teachers detected EIA in 14.9% of pupils and the doctor detected EIA in 21.7% of pupils.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that EIA is common and that teachers using a peak flow meter can detect EIA and thus screen for it; they do, however, underestimate the true magnitude of the problem.