RESUMO
Background. The factors relevant to the prognosis of childhood asthma differ from one population to another. Objectives. To characterize the course of childhood asthma in the catchment area of our hospital, and to identify prognostic factors for this population. Methods. All children given a diagnosis of asthma in the paediatric pulmonology service of a tertiary hospital were followed up for 5 years. Results. Satisfactory control of asthma was achieved in 69 % of cases. The factors identified as associated with poor control were allergy to cats and pollen, a large number of crises in the year prior to diagnosis, and younger age at onset. Conclusions. In our region, childhood asthma has a relatively favourable prognosis. The subsequent course of the disease appears to be determined in childhood. The persistence of symptoms appears to depend to a significant extent on the degree of atopy
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