ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Several studies have suggested that many children have no symptoms before hospitalization with asthma exacerbations. The purpose of this study was to evaluate how many asymptomatic children were hospitalized for asthma exacerbation, and to analyze their prior symptoms. METHODS: Children over 3 years old, hospitalized for acute asthma exacerbation in the Pediatric Allergy and Respiratory Centers in the Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital from January 2003 to December 2006 were enrolled, and their medical records reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: Among 142 identified patients (median age 5+/-2.5 yr), the group who developed asthmatic symptoms within four weeks before admission occupied about 18.5%. And the group who developed asthmatic symptoms in four weeks or acute exacerbation in six weeks before admission occupied about 23.2%. And group who had asthmatic symptoms in four weeks or acute exacerbation in six weeks or acute exacerbation one year before admission occupied about 31.6%. In September, the group who had no symptom before admission was larger than the group who had asthmatic symptom. The baseline characteristics of each group were not significantly different with respect to age, sex, past history or family history of allergic disease, UniCAP, total IgE and eosinophil count. CONCLUSION: Many children had no symptoms before admission for acute asthma exacerbation. Therefore, we suggest considering that a large number of patients with no previous symptoms are at great risk of acute exacerbation in September, when maintenance therapy is determined.