Paediatric asthma admissions in Galway 1985-89

The past 15 years has seen a worldwide increase in asthma admissions in children. The aim of our project was to study patterns of admission in our unit over the years 1985 to 1989. The study was retrospective, information was obtained from the ward admission register. Data were gathered on the age and sex of patients and the month of admission. Over the five year period there was a doubling in the number of admissions, in each year there was a male predominance. Just over half the children were aged one to four years. There was a marked seasonal variation in admission trends with a peak in September. When seasonal trends were analysed for age specific groups there was also an apparent peak in May for children aged one to four. Our data indicated that increasing hospitalisation because of asthma has also occurred in Galway. In common with several previous studies we have shown a marked seasonable variability with a peak of admissions in the autumn. Our study emphasizes the importance of preschool children in accounting for a disproportionate number of admissions.