DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2017.v05i11.072

Pages: 4678-4681

Asthma is recognized as a highly prevalent health problem affecting an estimated 300 million people of all ages, ethnic groups, and geographic origins, with an additional 100 million people estimated to be affected by 2025. Estimates indicate that, India has 20 to 28 million asthmatics and the prevalence amongst children in the age group of 5 -11 years is 10% to 15%. Aim is to study the clinical profile of childhood asthmatic patients attending the out patient and in patient wards of Department of Pediatrics in a teaching hospital. This is a prospective observational study to ascertain the clinical profile of asthmatic patients of age group 1 to 14 years. A total of 100 paediatric cases of Bronchial Asthma attending the paediatric wards of a teaching hospital between December 2014 to May 2016, were studied. All the 100 cases were divided in to 3 different age groups. Severity of Bronchial Asthma was classified in these children as intermittent /persistent types and initiated on appropriate treatment as per expert panel report 3. Bronchial Asthma was more common in male children. Its prevalence was maximum in 5-11 years age group. Cough was the most common symptom (95%) followed by wheeze (90%). Family history of asthma or allergic rhinitis was observed in 40% cases. Maximum cases of bronchial asthma were reported from August to November. Bronchial Asthma in children is prevalent in the age group of 5-11 years. Family history of asthma and allergic rhinitis are the most important risk factors for childhood asthma.