Abstract
The Quality of Life of children with bronchial asthma is believed to have a negative impact on their psychological anxiety, as well as on such daily activities as sleeping, exercising, doing sports, and in their school life. Subjects for this investigation included 66 asthmatic children aged 6 to 14, and 177 normal healthy children as controls. The purpose of this study is to evaluate their QOL based on such items as physical activities, mental and psychological activities, social activities, living environment, and level of independence, using a questionnaire. No fundamental differences regarding basic living conditions could be discerned between the two groups. However, asthmatic children demonstrated significant negative differences in their ability to deal with such issues as helping with family affairs, doing homework, and the number of hours spent in school. In particular, asthmatic children were less likely to take part in physical education and sports due to restrictions in their behavior. Asthmatic children did demonstrate an ability to cope with an asthma attack. These children were dissatisfied with their lifestyle, felt lonely and had a sense of alienation because they had few friends, could not join in with their playmates, or constantly had to go the hospital. Asthmatic children despaired about the symptoms of their disease and experienced physical, mental, and social impairments as a result of having asthma.
