PEDIATRICS Vol. 62 No. 5s November 1978, pp. 910-915
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow E-mail this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My File Cabinet
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Weinberger, M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Weinberger, M.

Analgesic Sensitivity in Children With Asthma

Miles Weinberger M.D.1

1 Departments of Pediatrics and Pharmacology, Pediatric Allergy and Pulmonary Division, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City

First described as a component of a triad seen among adults with nonallergic asthma and nasal polyps, aspirin sensitivity has subsequently been documented as a frequent concomitant of a wide range of patients with chronic asthma. Recent reports suggest that its incidence among children with asthma is higher than previously suspected. Among aspirin-sensitive asthmatics, indomethacm and newer, nonsteroid anti-inflammatory agents precipitate airway obstuction, with a high frequency while phenlbutazone has a lesser effect. Reports related to acetaminophen among these patients have been inconsistent. Salicylic acid and salicylamide appear to be tolerated. A correlation between the potential for causing airway obstruction among asthmatic patients and the drug's in vitro prostaglandin synthetase activity has been suggested, and elevation of plasma histamine level at the time of the pulmonary reaction has been described. Aspirin and other analgesics may therefore mediate bronchospasm by means of their effects on prostaglandin production and the resultant effects on intracellular cyclic nucleotide activity, which modulates histamine release from mast cells in lung tissue.