ABSTRACT
Objectives: The present study was conducted to identify possible causes of treatment failure among asthmatic children attending asthma clinic of Alexandria University Children's Hospital [AUCH]
Study Design: This study was carried out on a convenient sample of 100 asthmatic children attending the Asthma Clinic at Alexandria University Children's Hospital [AUCH]. Face to face interview with caregiver using an interviewing questionnaire include data about socio-demographic characteristics of both parents and child clinical data, environmental exposures and treatment behavior
Results: The mean age of studied children was 6.26 +/- 3.11 years and male children constituted two thirds [68%] of the study sample. Out of 100 asthmatic children only 42 children were controlled comparing to 43 children were partially controlled and 15 children were uncontrolled. Several variables were significantly associated with treatment failure include rural residency, school or daycare center attendance, in-appropriateness of asthma treatment, inadequate doses of drugs, poor compliance with the prescribed treatment and incorrect technique of inhaler intake. Continuous exposure to triggers [as smoking, URTI], associated co-morbid diseases and family history of asthma or other allergic conditions were not significant factors in this study; they are important factors that affect asthma control
Conclusion: The current study shows that asthma control remains unsatisfactory, with less than half of children having an acceptable level of control. Several variables were found to be associated with poor asthma control