STANDARDIZATION OF BRONCHIAL HYPERSENSITIVITY TEST FOR CHILDREN WITH BRONCHIAL ASTHMA USING INHALATION OF DISTILLED WATER

We have evaluated a safer and simpler method of inducing bronchospasm through inhalation of ultrasonically nebulized distilled water (UNDW). Inhalation of UNDW was continued for four min. at a fixed load of UNDW 1.6±0.3ml/min. The reproducibility, r, of the test as determined on the basis of FEV1.0 was 0.96, while by MMF it was 0.84., demonstrated statistical significant correlation. A significant correlation of the test was confirmed in different groups with different degree of severity of asthmatic symptoms. Mean fall in FEV1.0 is 28.0±17.1% for mild cases, 39.4±10.0% for moderate cases and 60.4±11.3% for severe cases, respectively.Using this method, bronchial respose was assessed in 53 children with bronchial asthma. Mean % fall in FEV1.0 was 38.4±22.1% and in MMF is 50.6±23.4%. These results suggest that this method is useful in supporting a diagnosis of bronchial asthma.