Forced Oscillation Technique (FOT) - the new era in diagnostics of obstructive diseases in children

<bold>Introduction:</bold> In recent years FOT (forced oscillation technique) is gaining popularity in the diagnostics of obstructive lung diseases (especially in children), due to the easy and quick implementation as well as the high sensitivity of the method. <bold>Aim:</bold> The purpose of this study is to show the success rate of the method in different children's age groups. <bold>Мethods:</bold>100 children aged between 3-17 years were examined with the RESMON PRO device. The test requires tidal breathing and a total of three to five technically acceptable measurements. <bold>Results:</bold> The FOT applies an external oscillatory signal in order to determine the response of the respiratory system. It is used in the diagnosis of obstructive diseases such as bronchial asthma, cystic fibrosis and COPD. A huge advantage of the method is that it requires minimal cooperation from the patient - just spontaneous tidal breathing. 100 children took part of the study and were divided into three age groups as follows: Group 1: under 6 years, Group 2: 7-12 years, Group 3: 13-17 years. In group 1 the success rate was close to 85% whereas in groups 2 and 3 we observed a study success rate equal to 100%. A difficulty in performing the examination is observed mostly in children under 4 years of age, as they must feel comfortable and not intimidated, which is not always possible even in the presence of a parent. The most common reasons for failure of the measurement were two: crying out of fear and due to laughing. The child's laughter was mainly caused by the oscillations which create a tickling sensation in the child's oral cavity and chest. <bold>Conclusion:</bold> The technique of forced oscillations is an extremely effective and informative method in the diagnosis of obstructive diseases, even at the young age of less than 6 years.