Pulmonary function in children after a single scuba dive.

This study evaluated the respiratory effects of a single dive in children. Eighteen young divers and 18 controls participated in our study (age range: 9 - 13 years). Volumes and expiratory flow rates were measured 20 minutes before and 10 minutes after one air dive (3 meters, 25 minutes). Before the dive, no differences were noted regarding pulmonary parameters. Ten minutes after the dive, decreases were noted in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and maximal voluntary ventilation (- 8 %, - 5.3 %, respectively; p < 0.01), peak expiratory flow, maximal expiratory flow rates at 50 % of FVC (MEF(50 %)) and MEF(25 %), forced mid-expiratory flow rate (FEF(25 - 75 %)), and FEV1/FVC(- 5.9 %, - 14.3 %, - 21.4 %, - 4.2 %, - 3.5 %, respectively; p < 0.05). The respiratory pattern observed 10 minutes after a single dive to three meters indicated airway narrowing. However, no association between diving experience and lung function was obtained.