1991 Volume 5 Issue 1 Pages 46-52
To evaluate the aggravating factors for asthma, we compared children with frequent admission or long term hospitalization for asthma with those with mild asthma without hospitalization. The mean age of 49 children with severe asthma ranging from 2 to 21 years was 12.5±4.8 years of age. The sex ratio was 1.6. Each experienced 10 episodes of admission or 182 days of hospitalization, and 4.4 episodes of status asthmaticus on the average for 3 years since 1986 to 1988. Mechanical ventilation was performed in one case, and 10 cases were steroid-dependent.
In comparison of the severe asthma with 98 cases of age-and sex-matched mild asthma, the severe asthma had a greater rate of early onset of asthma before 2 years of age, positive history of atopic dermatitis and food allergy. No differences were observed for serum IgE levels and RAST to egg white and house dust mite. Psychosomatic involvements were recognized in some cases with severe asthma.
These findings showed that treatment and prevention of severe asthma is important in management including that of atopic skin disease and food allergy as well as enviromental contorol since infancy and early childfood. Psychologic approach may increase management skills for adolescence cases.
