Review of different anthropometric and nutritional measurements in children with bronchial asthma

Abstract

The aims of this study were to describe and compare the recent literature data of anthropometric and nutritional measurements in children with bronchial asthma from the researches published in the last 10 years. 46 studies from the year 2003 to 2014 were reviewed and analyzed along with the information published before. The measurements reviewed include body height, body weight, body mass index and body composition.The severity and duration of bronchial asthma, along with the inhaled corticosteroid treatment, negatively correlate with the height of the children. Also, the fat free mass of the body is decreased and fat mass is increased. Due to more robust body build and the body mass index in children with bronchial asthma is usually increased if compared to healthy children. An increased body mass index in these children reduces the effectiveness of the treatment. Increased body mass index can also be a predictor for the risk for developing late onset bronchial asthma in girls.