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OBJECTIVES: To assess whether adolescents with asthma experience a lower mental well-being and lower general health than their peers without asthma. STUDY DESIGN: Data from the Prevention and Incidence of Asthma and Mite Allergy study were used. At the ages of 11, 14, 17, and 20 years, 2651, 2522, 2094, and 2206 participants, respectively, completed questionnaires. Their parents completed questionnaires at the ages of 11 (n = 2660), 14 (n = 2338), and 17 years (n = 1872). Asthma was defined according to the Mechanisms of the Development of Allergy criteria. Mental well-being was measured using the Mental Health Index-5 and was reported by the adolescents. General health, measured on a 4-point Likert scale, was reported by the adolescents and their parents. We estimated associations of asthma with mental well-being and perceived general health using generalized estimating equations. RESULTS: At ages 11, 14, 17, and 20 years, 6.7%, 6.9%, 5.0%, and 6.6%, respectively, of the adolescents had asthma. Adolescents with asthma did not score differently on the Mental Health Index than their peers without asthma. Adolescents with asthma were less likely to experience good or excellent health than their peers without asthma (aOR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.26-0.51 for intermittent asthma and 0.33; 95% CI, 0.25-0.41 for persistent asthma). These results remain similar across the different ages. CONCLUSIONS: The mental well-being of adolescents with asthma is similar to that of their peers without asthma, although adolescents with asthma are less likely to perceive a good or excellent general health.

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OBJECTIVE: To quantify the critical age period of first episode of acute otitis media (AOM) and its consequences for AOM recurrences and AOM health care use. STUDY DESIGN: Children enrolled in the Wheezing-Illnesses-STudy-LEidsche-Rijn cohort with at least 1 episode of AOM documented in their primary care health record before 2 years of age were followed until 6 years of age. Data on episodes of AOM and associated primary care consultations, antibiotic prescriptions, and specialist referrals were retrieved. Regression models assessed the presence and shape of the associations between age of first AOM and subsequent episodes of AOM and health care use. RESULTS: A total of 796 of 2026 children (39%) experienced a first AOM before 2 years of age. Each month decrease in age at first AOM in the first 2 years of life increased the risk of developing recurrent AOM (≥3 AOM episodes in 6 months or ≥ 4 in 1 year) linearly by 6% (adjusted risk ratio: 1.06; 95% CI: 1.02-1.10). For first AOM occurring before 9 months, the cumulative 6-year primary care consultation rate increased by 8% (adjusted incidence rate ratio: 1.08; 95% CI: 1.03-1.15) and the associated specialist referral increased by 16% (adjusted risk ratio: 1.16; 95% CI: 1.07-1.27) for each month decrease in age. No associations were found between age at first AOM and total AOM episodes or antibiotic prescriptions. CONCLUSIONS: The association between earlier age of first AOM and recurrent AOM as well as total health care use during childhood is particularly strong before 9 months of age.

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OBJECTIVES: To investigate the occurrence of respiratory pathogens in samples from children with and without respiratory symptoms and to identify whether age and/ or coinfections modify the impact of respiratory pathogens on symptoms. STUDY DESIGN: In a prospective longitudinal study, 18 children were sampled biweekly for respiratory pathogens, irrespective of respiratory symptoms. Polymerase chain reaction was performed for 13 respiratory pathogens. Episodes were defined "asymptomatic" if no symptoms of any respiratory tract illness were present between 1 week before and 1 week after sampling. RESULTS: A total of 230 samples were collected. In 56% of the symptomatic episodes, a pathogen was detected, compared with 40% of the asymptomatic episodes (P = .03). Rhinovirus and coronaviruses were most prevalent in both symptomatic and asymptomatic episodes. In the youngest children, 9% of the pathogen-positive episodes were asymptomatic, compared with 36% in the oldest children (P = .01). Multiple pathogens were found in 17% of the symptomatic episodes and in 3% of the asymptomatic episodes (P = .02). CONCLUSIONS: Respiratory pathogens are frequently detected in samples from children with no respiratory symptoms. Symptomatic cases occurred more often in younger children and with detections of more than 1 respiratory pathogen.

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OBJECTIVE: To evaluate cardiopulmonary function, muscle strength, and cardiopulmonary fitness (VO 2 peak) in patients with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). STUDY DESIGN: In 17 patients with OI type I (mean age 13.3 +/- 3.9 years) cardiopulmonary function was assessed at rest using spirometry, plethysmography, electrocardiography, and echocardiography. Exercise capacity was measured using a maximal exercise test on a bicycle ergometer and an expired gas analysis system. Muscle strength in shoulder abductors, hip flexors, ankle dorsal flexor, and grip strength were measured. All results were compared with reference values. RESULTS: Cardiopulmonary function at rest was within normal ranges, but when it was compared with normal height for age and sex, vital capacities were reduced. Mean absolute and relative VO 2 peak were respectively -1.17 (+/- 0.67) and -1.41 (+/- 1.52) standard deviations lower compared with reference values ( P < .01). Muscle strength also was significantly reduced in patients with OI, ranging from -1.24 +/- 1.40 to -2.88 +/- 2.67 standard deviations lower compared with reference values. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with OI type I, no pulmonary or cardiac abnormalities at rest were found. The exercise tolerance and muscle strength were significantly reduced in patients with OI, which might account for their increased levels of fatigue during activities of daily living.

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