Impact of asthma on children's gustatory sensitivity, masticatory and feeding behaviors

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease, in which disturbances in breathing, masticatory and swallowing functions may impact the eating behavior. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of asthma on taste sensitivity, masticatory behavior and feeding problems in children. The sample consisted of 91 children (6-7y) divided into two groups: asthma (n = 46) and control group (n = 45). Interviews were held with parents/guardians and clinical examinations were performed to gather information on medical, dental and feeding aspects. The gustatory sensitivity for sucrose and urea (sweet and bitter, respectively) were measured by staircase method designed for this age-range. The respiratory and masticatory functions were evaluated using the Orofacial Myofunctional Evaluation with Scores-expanded (OMES-e) protocol. Feeding problems were assessed using the Montreal Children's Hospital Feeding Scale, exploring oral motor, sensory, appetite, maternal concerns, child's behavior, and strategy aspects after transcultural adaptation to Brazilian Portuguese. The two groups were homogeneous relative to sociodemographic characteristics and nutritional status. Although the total OMES-e scores did not differ between groups, the frequency of changes in food incision and escape were different (p = 0.007 and p = 0.0011, respectively). The Asthma group required more time and higher number of masticatory cycles to eat the test-food (p <0.05). The gustatory thresholds for sweet and bitter were different, with asthmatic children requiring significantly higher concentrations to perceive the taste (p < 0.001). The frequency of children classified by their parents according to feeding difficulties also differed between groups (p = 0.001; Fisher's exact test). Asthmatic children showed remarkable changes in taste, chewing and eating behaviors, thereby pointing out the eating problems they may experience, which should be considered when designing and implementing therapeutic interventions.