Physical growth of nigerian children with bronchial asthma

The weights and heights of 280 Nigerian children with bronchial asthma were compared with those of apparently healthy Nigerian children from a similar socio-economic background. No statistically significant differences were found between the asthmatics and their healthy counterparts. Although children with severe asthma were, on average, lighter in weight and shorter in stature than those with mild or moderate disease, weights and heights within the asthmatic group were more dependent upon the social class of the family and, to a lesser extent, the duration of asthma. It is concluded that asthma per se, is not a usual cause of severe growth retardation in childhood.