Incidence of bronchial asthma in a children hospital, Jeddah

ABSTRACT

To study epidemiological and management pattern of asthmatic children attending the emergency room of the main children hospital at Jeddah and to determine the relation of temperature changes in the city to the rate of their attendance. A retrospective review of all emergency room records in 2 years. Yearly and monthly rates of acute asthma cases required medical intervention were calculated. Monthly ratios were correlated to mean grades of temperature in the city. A sample of 2504 cases were drawn randomly to reveal factors associated with presentation and management of asthmatic children. A total of 13802 acute asthmatic children presented to the emergency room [7.2% of all emergencies]. Saudis formed 61.2% and males formed 65.5% of asthmatics. Younger ages [< 2 years] showed a significant predominance and family history of bronchial asthma was recorded in 74% of the sample while previous use of prophylactic therapy was very low. Dyspnea was the most frequent presenting symptom followed by cough and wheezing. Most of the cases were managed primarily by nebulized Salbutamol and only 21% required systemic steroid. Months of low temperature grades were strongly associated with more presentation of asthmatics in the emergency room. Asthmatic children are forming a sizable portion of emergency attendances in Jeddah. An inadequate use of standard prophylactic therapies with a subsequent high impact on the utilization of health resources was noted. Efforts are needed by the medical community to adhere to national and international protocols for the diagnosis and management of bronchial asthma and promote the use of prophylactic drugs