Clinical characteristics of children with asthma exacerbations: a cross-sectional descriptive study

Ezgi Cay1, Veysel Karakulak2, Ahmet Sezer2

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Balcali Hospital, Cukurova University, Adana, Turkey.

Insights

Asthma exacerbations in children are more severe with bacterial infections, atopic disease, and poor treatment adherence. These factors, along with Alternaria exposure, predict severity in pediatric asthma patients.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
  • Respiratory Medicine
  • Clinical Research

Background:

  • Asthma exacerbations in children are a significant cause of hospital admissions.
  • Identifying factors predicting exacerbation severity is crucial for effective management.
  • Aeroallergen prevalence in southern Turkey necessitates understanding their role in pediatric asthma.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine clinical characteristics of pediatric asthma exacerbations in southern Turkey.
  • To investigate the impact of these characteristics on exacerbation severity.
  • To identify predictors of severe asthma exacerbations in children.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional descriptive study analyzing retrospectively collected data.
  • Included 106 children with asthma and no comorbidities.
  • Compared clinical and laboratory parameters between mild/moderate and severe exacerbations.

Main Results:

  • 18.8% of children experienced severe asthma exacerbations.
  • Severe exacerbations were linked to atopic disease, Alternaria positivity, frequent prior exacerbations, Streptococcus pneumoniae infection, and poor treatment adherence.
  • Patients with severe exacerbations showed lower Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF), Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV1), and FEV1/Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) values.

Conclusions:

  • Bacterial infections, atopic disease, and Alternaria exposure are associated with severe pediatric asthma.
  • Low spirometric measures and a history of frequent exacerbations predict severity.
  • Treatment adherence is a critical factor in managing pediatric asthma exacerbations.
Abstract

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