SUDDEN-DEATH IN ASTHMA IN CHILDHOOD

Authors
Citation
Cs. Champ et Rw. Byard, SUDDEN-DEATH IN ASTHMA IN CHILDHOOD, Forensic science international, 66(2), 1994, pp. 117-127
Citations number
18
Categorie Soggetti
Medicine, Legal
ISSN journal
03790738
Volume
66
Issue
2
Year of publication
1994
Pages
117 - 127
Database
ISI
SICI code
0379-0738(1994)66:2<117:SIAIC>2.0.ZU;2-T
Abstract
Death from asthma in childhood is rare, occurring in approximately 1 i n 10 000 affected children. While most deaths occur in hospitalised ch ildren with severe asthma, it has been reported that sudden and unexpe cted death may occur in children with only mild disease. In this study the clinicopathological features of 11 cases of sudden death taken fr om the files of the Adelaide Children's Hospital over a 30-year period are reported. Children were aged between 3 years 10 months and 15 yea rs 2 months (average = 9 years 9 months), with a male to female ratio of 5:6. Deaths occurred either at home, in an ambulance or within minu tes of arriving in the Emergency Department. Viral respiratory tract i nfections were common associated findings. While one child was conside red to have only mild disease, most children had long histories of ast hma and had required prolonged medication or hospitalisation. The demo nstration of growth retardation (i.e. height or weight < 3rd percentil e) in 73% of cases is also supportive of long-standing severe asthma b eing present. Thus, in this series, sudden and unexpected death occurr ed only in children with significant chronic disease. In formulating t he diagnosis of sudden death due to asthma in children, delaying growt h parameters may, therefore, be an additional useful morphological mar ker indicating an at-risk child.