Understanding the Concept of 'Family History' in Black Asthmatic Children

ABSTRACT

Background. Despite the fact that 71.6 of children at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital (CHBH) Asthma Clinic in Soweto; Johannesburg were found to have one or more positive skin-prick tests (SPTs) to common aero-allergens; they reported a low rate of positive family history for atopic conditions (22.2reason(s) why a positive family history has been found so seldom in these children. Methods. A random group of parents of the atopic asthmatic children attending the CHBH Children's Asthma Clinic completed a detailed questionnaire regarding their atopic status. Skin-prick testing was performed. Results. Fifty-four sets of parents and 15 single mothers were studied. Of the 48 atopic children; 37 (77). In the past this has minimised the importance of family history in determining the nature of chest symptoms in children in this population group; suggesting that some new environmental exposure; rather than the established familial factor; was creating the allergic milieu in this group. Objective. To determine the predictive value of a family history of symptoms of atopic disease (and allergy) by seeking evidence for this condition in the parents of asthmatic children attending the CHBH Children's Asthma Clinic; and the ) had at least 1 parent with a positive SPT. Fifty-five per cent of mothers had a positive SPT; while 48 of fathers had at least 1 positive SPT. Seven of 69 mothers (10) had a definitive diagnosis of asthma. Of these; 5 (71) were SPT-positive. Only 3 of the fathers (5.5) had asthma. All had positive SPTs. However; if all the symptoms suggestive of asthma; namely chronic cough or wheeze; were taken into account; the number of potential atopic fathers and mothers increased to 10 (19) and 18 (26) respectively. Conclusion. Simple questioning for family history of atopic disease is therefore not a good predictor of atopy in offspring in this cohort of patients. In order to get maximal yield from this question; parents must rather be asked about specific symptoms suggestive of asthma and/or allergic rhinitis