Open AccessClinical features of a paediatric asthma population in T rinidad
Author(s) -
Matthew Jason,
Bekele Isaac,
Pinto Pereira Lexley Maureen
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
the clinical respiratory journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.789
H-Index - 33
eISSN - 1752-699X
pISSN - 1752-6981
DOI - 10.1111/j.1752-699x.2012.00301.x
Subject(s) - medicine , wheeze , asthma , salbutamol , confidence interval , odds ratio , sore throat , pediatrics , logistic regression , population , asthma exacerbations , anesthesia , environmental health
Aim Clinical features and management of paediatric asthma, highly prevalent in the Caribbean, was explored in Trinidadian children. Materials Children (2–16 years) with acute [visiting Accident and Emergency ( A & E ) in the past 12 months (50.2%, 120)] or stable asthma [controlled during the previous 3 months (49.8%, 119)] were studied. Results There were more ( P < 0.001) boys (71.5%) than girls. Asthma was associated with asthmatic mothers (48.5%), fathers (19.2%) and both parents (15.1%) ( P < 0.001). Children's average age of first wheeze was 2.5 (standard deviation = 1.3) years; 30.1% were nebulized before 1 year. In the past 12 months, frequencies of A & E visits were once (20.6%), >1 (61.9%) and >3 times (26.4%) ( P < 0.001). Sufferers of exacerbations showed negative logistic regression for age (−0.129, standard error = 0.039, P < 0.001) independent of gender. Acute asthmatics who suffered cough, fever and sore throat in the preceding week were respectively 15.2 [odds ratio ( OR ) = 15.2, 95% confidence interval ( CI ) = 6.8–34.0], 13.7 ( OR = 13.7, 95% CI = 6.7–28.2) and 3.4 ( OR = 3.4, 95% CI = 1.7–6.7) times more likely to suffer wheeze exacerbations than stable children. Most stable children (76.5%) inhaled corticosteroids with salbutamol reliever compared with 22.5% of acute asthmatics, whereas 40.8% of the latter group used salbutamol alone compared with 19.3% of stable children ( P < 0.001). Conclusion Childhood wheeze occurs before 3 years and is associated with maternal asthma. Cough, fever and sore throat in the previous week are strongly associated with exacerbations. Defining these associations could enhance preventive approaches to combat childhood asthma. Please cite this paper as: M atthew J , B ekele I and P into P ereira LM . C linical features of a paediatric asthma population in T rinidad. C lin R espir J 2012; 7: 189–196.