Pulmonary Function Studies in Children

Abstract

Reports on the abnormalities of pulmonary functions in children afflicted with poliomyelitis have appeared recently.^1,2 Such studies are difficult to evaluate because of inadequate reference standards in children. Normal pediatric standards of reference have not yet been established with modern respiratory function equipment or by any large-scale studies. The present study was made to provide standard values for estimation of normal vital capacity (VC), maximum expiratory flow rate (MEFR), and timed vital capacity (TVC). The group in the present study was composed of 1,163 apparently healthy elementary school children.* The population was composed of 624 boys and 539 girls. This group ranged in age from 6 to 14 years with 15% of the sample composed of adolescents.† The group was predominantly middle class in background, of various national origins, and mainly of the Caucasian race. Methods and Materials A Blodgett-Osborn spirometer‡ with a high speed kymograph was used in