Clinical Characteristics of Hospitalized Cases due to Asthma Attack Combined with Pneumonic Infiltrates / 소아알레르기및호흡기학회지

PURPOSE: The respiratory tract infections including pneumonia have been the major contributing factor for bronchial asthma, and are frequently involved in hospitalization due to asthma attack. We studied clinical characteristics of hospitalized cases due to asthma attack with and without pneumonic infiltrates. METHODS: Over 5 years between January 1993 and December 1997, 628 patients were hospitalized due to asthma attack. 315 of them had pneumonic infiltrates on chest X-ray (defined as pneumonia group) and 197 patients had no pneumonic infiltrates (uncomplicated group). The clinical characteristics of both groups were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: The age on admission and first attack in pneumonia group were significantly younger than those of uncomplicated group (P<0.05). The incidence of male was higher than that of female in both groups. The interval from attack to admission and duration of hospitalization were much longer in pneumonia group (P<0.05). The bronchial asthma attack was most frequently occurred between September and November. The atopy-perennial type was predominant in the both groups, and the incidence of non-atopy type was higher in the pneumonia group. The mild asthma attack was predominant in the pneumonia group and moderate one was predominant in the uncomplicated group. The incidence of fever and inflammatory reaction (peripheral blood WBC count, serum CRP level) were higher in the pneumonia group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the serum IgE level between two groups. CONCLUSION: Frequency and duration of hospitalization due to asthma attack might be lessened by prevention against respiratory tract infection.

Clinical Studies of Aseptic Meningitis in Pusan Area in 1996

PURPOSE: We report clinical features and viral studies on 153 children with aseptic meningitis in the Pusan area in 1996 and compare the results of this study with those of other reports in 1990 and 1993. METHODS: One hundred fifty-three children with aseptic meningitis who have been admitted to the Department of Pediatrics, St. Benedict Hospital between July and October 1996 were included. We described age and sex distribution, monthly distribution, clinical manifestations, laboratory data and complication. RESULTS: The male to female ratio was 2.32:1 and the most age was 4.21 years. It occurred mostly in July, August and October. It was later than the peak incidence between May and July in 1990 and 1993. The main symptoms were fever, headache and vomiting in this order. Rash was mostly maculopapular form and frequent in those younger than 4 years-old. No specific results were not found in peripheral blood and CSF studies. We failed to isolate the causative agent in the viral culture, but Echovirus 9 was suspected as a causative agent by its clinical features and other similar reports. The duration of clinical symptoms in the early diagnostic group was significantly shorter that in late diagnostic group. CONCLUSIONS: Aseptic meningitis was prevalent in children in the Pusan area, during the summer of 1996. It was frequent in male and the mean age was 4.21 years. It occurred mostly in July, August and October. Peak incidence was later than in 1990 and 1993. The main symptoms: fever, headache, vomiting and rash were observed frequently.