SOCIAL,
DEMOGRAPHIC AND CLINICAL PROPERTIES OF CHILDREN WITH EXTRINSIC ASTHMA
Oktem S,
Girit N, Vitrinel A, Tokuc G
Dr. L.
Kırdar Kartal Education and Research Hospital, Department of Pediatrics,
Istanbul, Turkey
Objective: Evaluation of
the clinical and demographic properties of 76 cases with extrinsic asthma.
The frequency of cockroach allergy was also detected among these children.
Methods:
76 children who were diagnosed as asthma were included in this study. Their
social, demographic and clinical features, laboratory values and skin prick
test results were recorded.
Results:
There were 42 male and 34 female cases (M/F=1.2/1). The beginning of the
symptoms was during the first 5 years in 53 % of the patients. We couldn¡¯t
find any evidence that insufficient breastfeeding; smoking parents, low
birth weight and premature birth could be an etiological factor for asthma.
There was a positive family history for asthma in one-third of the cases.
The attacks were related to smoke in 32.89 %; to dust in 38.16 %; to
physical effort in 32.89 %; to air pollution in 30.26 %. The attacks were
observed during winter and spring in 2/3 of patients. 73.68 % of patients
were complained about frequent upper airway infections. In 93.42 % of the
cases Dermatophagoides Pteronyssinus and 92.11 % of them Dermatophagoides
Farinea was found to as an allergen.The Cockroach allergy was found in 5.26
% of the patients. Allergic rhinitis were observed 11.84 %; atopic
dermatitis were observed 5.26 %; sinusitis were seen 19.74 % among our
cases.
Conclusion:
Although most common aeroallergens encountered in our asthmatic
children of the house-dust mites, cockroach allergy is observed less
frequently.