Salma Shaikh, Salma Shaikh, Aijaz Arain.
Childhood Asthma: Can we prevent hospital admissions?.
Pak Paed J Jan ;22(4):161-6.

Asthma is a common respiratory cause for bospital admission. The aim of study was to identify factors that can prevent future admissions in diagnosed cases of asthma. 50 diagnosed cases of asthma from 3 years to 12 years admitted in paediatric emergency Unit-I with acute asthma attack during 14 months September 97 to October 98 were included in the study. A detailed history was taken from all parents and case record of current admission was reviewed. 28/50 ix 56% of children had infrequent episodic asthma, 18/50 i.e. 36% had frequent episodic asthma and 4/50 i.e. 8% had persistent asthma. 75% children with persistent asthma were above nine years. There was evidence of under treatment and inadequate therapy in 32/50 i.e. 64% of cases. while poor treatment compliance was documented in 60% of cases. 42% of children admitted had duration of symptoms for <24 hours, 39% for 24-48 hrs and 19% for more than 48 hours. Delay in starting appropriate treatment and referral to hospital was seen in most patients. Only 4/50 i.e. 8% children were on oral steroids, while 92% were on antibiotics at time of admission. None of the children had any written management plan and all of them had one or more preventable factors thereby reflecting the poor state of awareness and knowledge of asthma in our population.

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