The aim of this paper was to study respiratory disorders in infancy and childhood as a risk factor for respiratory conditions in adulthood. During the first part of the survey 15,247 adolescents in the Bordeaux area (average age: 16.5 years, boys = 46.6%) filled in a self-administered questionnaire concerning their respiratory history during infancy and childhood, their present symptoms and their smoking habits. Each subject with chronic cough (n = 538) was then matched with two controls (n = 1094) and the parents of these subjects and of their controls were sent a complementary questionnaire. During the second part, 1807 adults (average age: 39.3 years; men = 49.7%) working at Bordeaux University filled in a self-administered questionnaire about their present respiratory symptoms, smoking habits and respiratory symptoms during adolescence. Spirometry was performed in 172 adolescents and 1665 adults. The results of the first part showed a very significant relationship in adolescents between respiratory history during infancy and childhood and current chronic cough even in non-smokers, non-wheezers and non-asthmatics. The second part showed a very significant relationship in adults between respiratory symptoms during adolescence and present respiratory symptoms on the one hand, and a lower pulmonary function on the other, taking wheezing, smoking and asthma into account. In common with many similar studies, we conclude that respiratory disorders in young children may predispose to later disease, and that consequently it might be important to determine appropriate measures to prevent respiratory illness in childhood.
A matched survey of 55 full-time workers probably exposed to asbestos in an electricity-generating power station (exposed group) and of 53 unexposed workers in an automobile plant has been conducted. The asbestos risk in the power station was confirmed by the presence of airborne fibers in the range 0.1--6000 X 10(-9) g/m3 in the air sampled during the survey period and by the presence of FB in the sputa of 32.7% of the workers. The following parameters were significantly related to asbestos exposure in the study group: FB in the sputa, localized rectitude of the diaphragm, pleural thickening, pleural calcification, and the chest pain. Moreover, for all persons studied, gastrointestinal symptoms and recent hoarsening of the voice were significantly related to the number of FB in the sputa.
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