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Day care and asthma morbidity
G J Connett1, C J Connett, S C Quek
1Department of Paediatrics, National University Hospital, Singapore.
Insights
Children with asthma attending daycare experienced more respiratory symptoms like coughing and wheezing. This suggests daycare may exacerbate asthma symptoms in young children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Environmental Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Asthma is a common chronic respiratory disease in preschool children.
- Daycare attendance is prevalent among preschool children.
- Understanding environmental triggers for childhood asthma exacerbations is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between daycare attendance and lower respiratory symptoms in preschool asthmatic children.
- To compare symptom frequency in asthmatic children attending daycare versus those cared for at home.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire-based study was conducted with parents of 69 preschool asthmatic children attending a specialist respiratory clinic.
- Analysis was restricted to 49 children aged 2-4 years due to age distribution variations.
- Symptom frequency (cough, nocturnal wheeze, waking wheeze) in the two weeks prior to clinic visits was assessed.
Main Results:
- Asthmatic children attending daycare reported significantly more frequent cough and wheezing (nighttime and upon waking) compared to those cared for at home.
- Daycare attendees showed a higher likelihood of experiencing lower respiratory symptoms.
Conclusions:
- Daycare attendance is associated with an increased frequency of lower respiratory symptoms in preschool children with asthma.
- Environmental exposures in daycare settings may contribute to asthma symptom exacerbation.
- Further research into specific daycare-related triggers is warranted.
Abstract:
An association between attendance at day care centres and lower respiratory symptoms among pre-school asthmatic children who were attending follow-up appointments at a specialist respiratory outpatient clinic was studied. Parents of 69 children completed a questionnaire. Because of the variation in the age distribution of the two groups, analysis was restricted to children aged 2-4 years old; results from 49 children were analysed. Cough, wheeze at night and wheeze on waking occurred significantly more frequently in the two weeks prior to clinic visits among asthmatics attending day care. Among asthmatic children requiring specialist outpatient follow up, those attending day care are more likely to be troubled by lower respiratory symptoms than those looked after at home.