Wood dusts are known to cause respiratory disorders like rhinitis and asthma. This study was therefore done to determine the magnitude of the problem among woodworkers in south-eastern Nigeria exposed to high level of wood dust. Five hundred and ninety one woodworkers were selected using a stratified random sampling. The prevalence of woodwork-related rhinitis and asthma were then observed in t...

Salbutamol was given by the intramuscular route to children aged 3 to 16 years with an attack of asthma. Results with a dose of 8 microgram/kg were favourable but suggested that a higher dose might be more so. 16 children thereafter were treated with 20 microgram/kg which produced a greater mean increase in peak expiratory flow rates (PEFR) without increase in side effects. This dose was then u...

Peak expiratory flow (PEF) variability can be considered as an index of bronchial lability. Population studies on PEF variability are few. The purpose of the current paper is to describe the distribution of PEF variability in a random population sample of adults with a wide age range (20-70 yrs), and to assess relationships to age, gender and smoking habits. PEF data were collected in 511 parti...

This study was carried out to obtain normal lung function values for women in south eastern Nigeria with a view to establishing prediction equations for forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume at the first second (FEV(1)) and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR). Lung function values were measured in 600 apparently healthy Nigerian women aged between 18 and 57 years. FVC and FEV1 were...

Clenbuterol is a beta 2-sympathomimetic bronchodilator. In a double-blind cross-over trial in 19 asthmatic patients with reversible airways obstruction, oral administration of both clenbuterol (40 microgram) and salbutamol (4 mg) caused significantly greater increased in peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) than placebo, that of clenbuterol lasting longer. The patients' subjective assessment also s...

One hundred and twenty-two asthmatic patients were identified with the help of a microcomputer in a Belfast practice of 3140. Thirteen different diagnostic labels were found to be used with up to five different labels used for a single patient. Inadequate treatment was found in a small number of patients, which was attributable to both doctor and patient. Regular monitoring using peak expirator...

The bronchodilator effect of sodium cromoglycate (SCG) solution was investigated. Twenty asthmatic children aged 6-15 years (mean 11.3) were examined and the action of SCG compared with that of salbutamol and placebo (water). SCG produced a significantly raised peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) before exercise, which reached a maximum immediately after exercise. The bronchodilatation was sustain...

This paper systematically reviews literature on the application of serial peak expiratory flow (PEF) measurements in the diagnosis of occupational asthma and calculates summary estimates of the sensitivity, specificity, and feasibility of serial PEFs.