DIAGNOSING PNEUMONIA BY ANALYZING CHANGES IN THE SUBFRACTIONAL COMPOSITION OF THE CONDENSATE MOISTURE OF EXHALED AIR

Introduction. Earlier it was shown that the biophysical properties of condensed moisture of exhale air (CMEA) depends on the functional stress in respiratory system. In this regard, both scientific and practical interest are to study the characteristics of the macromolecular structure of CMEA in the presence an acute inflammatory process in the airways.

Materials and methods. There were examined two groups of children — healthy (15 people) and patients with pneumonia (24 people) aged 6 to 10 years. CMEA samples were researched by laser correlation spectroscopy (LCS).

Results and discussion. In CMEA spectrum of childhood pneumonia, the main contribution — 87.0% — comes from particles of 1–100 nm. Moreover, in CMEA spectrums of children with pneumonia particles with size of 26 to 100 nm and with size of 101 to 290 nm appear. These particles are completely absent in healthy children. Of the total number of all particles, these particles make up 11.6% and 10.2% respectively. These changes in CMEA spectra of sick children can be explained by processes of exudation and liquid yield small molecular species, including albumin.

Conclusions. The composition of CMEA according to the LCS data has some differences in healthy and sick children with pneumonia. The appearance of particles with size of 26 to 290 nm in CMEA of children with pneumonia confirms intoxication process according to the semiotic classifier that are observed in diseases of pneumonia and can serve as a diagnostic feature.