A study of respiratory function in normal schoolchildren in northern Nigeria

Abstract

Respiratory function tests have been performed on schoolchildren in Zaria. Nigeria, to determine normal values among healthy children. Three hundred and eighty-eight students, comprising 257 male and 131 female children, from the Government Day Secondary School were included in this study. The forced vital capacity (FVC). forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1), forced mid-expiratory flow (FMF 25- 75%) and forced expiratory flow were measured using the vitalograph apparatus. It was observed from the results that the mean values of respiratory function tests in boys were significantly higher (P < 0.01) than the mean values matched for age, height and weight in female children. It was also observed that the values obtained in the present study were lower than those for Caucasian children. However, it was observed that FVC, FEV1 and FMF 25- 75% correlated significantly with age, height, weight and body surface area.