Epidemiology and outcome of childhood asthma: a clinical study in an Egyptian university medical centre

• Published in: Eastern Mediterranean health journal Vol. 19; no. 6; pp. 520 - 526
• Main Authors: Abd Elmoneim, A, Hassan, I A, Abd, Elnaby A, Elmagd, A Abou
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Egypt 01.06.2013
• Subjects: Academic Medical Centers - statistics & numerical data; Asthma - complications; Asthma - drug therapy; Asthma - epidemiology; Child; Child, Preschool; Cough - complications; Cough - etiology; Disease Progression; Dyspnea - complications; Dyspnea - etiology; Egypt - epidemiology; Family Health; Female; Humans; Male; Patient Admission - statistics & numerical data; Prevalence; Prospective Studies; Residence Characteristics - statistics & numerical data; Respiratory Sounds; Respiratory Tract Infections - complications; Risk Factors; Sex Distribution; Surveys and Questionnaires; Tobacco Smoke Pollution - adverse effects; Egypt
• ISSN: 1020-3397; 1687-1634
• DOI: 10.26719/2013.19.6.520

The prevalence of childhood asthma has increased recently. The aim of this study was to assess the epidemiology of asthma and risk factors for hospital admission among children attending the outpatient and emergency clinic in a university hospital in Sohag, Egypt. The prevalence of asthma over a 6-month period among children aged 3-12 years at this hospital was 1.4% (178/12,612). All the asthmatic children were enrolled in an observational, prospective questionnaire study. More of the asthmatics were males, living in rural areas, with recurrent upper respiratory tract infections, passive exposure to tobacco smoke and suffering attacks at night time; 38 children (21.3%) needed hospital admission for asthma. In multivariate regression analysis, significant risk factors for hospital admission were: both cough and dyspnoea as presenting symptoms; using prophylactic therapy; and complaining of continuous symptoms (during both day and night). Proper use of prophylactic therapies is recommended for better outcomes in our asthmatic children.