Assessment of Impact of Environmental Causative Factors on Severity of Asthma in Children.

ABSTRACT

Objective: The present study evaluated the association between environmental factors and severity of asthma in children. Materials and methods: Questionnaires were specifically designed factoring patients’ demographical profile, socioeconomic status, causative environmental factors and severity of asthma. Results: A total of 100 patients were interviewed who visited our pediatric department complaining of asthma symptoms. Maximum children were of the age group between 6 and 10 years (29%). The ratio of male (64%) was more than female (36%). Maximum patients belong to middle class family (33%) and lower middle class (29%). Among children cold/respiratory illness (87%) followed by exercise and sports (70%) was the most common environmental trigger for asthma. Asthma symptoms worsened during day time and winter season in this group. Conclusion: A significant positive association between environmental asthma triggers smoke (p = 0.035), strong smell (p = 0.008), cold/respiratory illness (p = 0.035), hot/cold air (p = 0.03) and severity of asthma in children was observed. Winter season worsened the asthma symptoms (p = 0.047) in children.