IMPAIRED RESPIRATORY FUNCTIONS IN CHILDREN WITH CAT SENSITIZATION IN THE EARLY AGES OF CHILDHOOD.

Background: To evaluate the respiratory functions in children with cat sensitization accompanying allergic respiratory diseases and to compare these with those of healthy controls, as well as within themselves by classifying according to their diseases, domestic cat exposure, age groups'.

Methods: This prospective case-control study included 130 children aged 3-17 years with cat sensitization (CS group) accompanying respiratory allergic diseases and 70 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HC group). The cases' demographic parameters were recorded, and respiratory functions were analyzed using IOS and spirometry.

Results: At IOS evaluation, zR5, R5-20, Fres, and AX values ​​were higher in children in the CS group compared to the HC group (p = 0.029, p = 0.008, p = 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively), while zX5 and zX20 values ​​were lower (p = 0.001 and p < 0.001). R5-20 and AX were higher in asthma compared to allergic rhinitis (p = 0.008, p = 0.015), but were insignificant compared to asthma and allergic rhinitis coexistent group (p > 0.05). R5-20, Fres, and AX were higher, and zX20 was lower in the pre-school age group (p < 0.001). No correlation was found between zFEV1, zFVC, zFEV1/FVC, zFEF25-75 and zR5 values in the CS group (p > 0.05).

Conclusions: Pulmonary resistance was higher and reactance was lower in the entire and peripheral airways in children with cat sensitization accompanying respiratory allergic diseases compared to the healthy controls. Peripheral airway resistance and reactance were more impaired in asthma group compared to allergic rhinitis. However, peripheral airway resistance and main airway reactance were more impaired in the pre-school age group than the older ones.