Abstract
Adolescent athletes are a particular group requiring special medical
attention. Recent literature outlines the growing problem of physical
inactivity among young people, exploring various dimensions that may
explain lack of physical activity, and potentially relevant
interventions and strategies. There is growing evidence that physical
inactivity predisposes to the development of asthma. Exercise is one of
the most common factors triggering cough, dyspnea, and breathing
difficulties in otherwise healthy children. This condition is called
exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB). Symptoms of EIB include
cough, wheezes, chest tightness, and dyspnea during or after physical
education lessons. The number of adolescents suffering from EIB is
underestimated and many athletes remain undiagnosed and untreated. In
this article we argue that complexity of diagnosing EIB is greater for
adolescent athletes than it is for adults. The purpose of this review is
to draw the attention of the medical community to the problem of EIB and
asthma symptoms among adolescent athletes. We performed a meta-analysis
of these two topics, consulting PubMed and ClinicalKey for the terms:
“adolescent athletes”, “exercise-induced bronchoconstriction” and
“asthma in adolescent athletes”. After analysis of the relevant
scientific data, the most important facts and issues related to the
study group were listed.