Recognition of asthmatic symptoms in the pediatric age group

Citation
V. Grech et al., Recognition of asthmatic symptoms in the pediatric age group, PEDIAT A IM, 12(1), 2001, pp. 49-53
Citations number
12
Categorie Soggetti
Pediatrics
Journal title
PEDIATRIC ALLERGY AND IMMUNOLOGY
ISSN journal
09056157 → ACNP
Volume
12
Issue
1
Year of publication
2001
Pages
49 - 53
Database
ISI
SICI code
0905-6157(200102)12:1<49:ROASIT>2.0.ZU;2-9
Abstract
Asthma produces substantial morbidity in childhood. Under-diagnosis may lea d to inappropriate treatment and prolonged periods of illness and absence f rom school. The results of a recent International Study of Asthma and Aller gies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire study in Malta showed a higher prev alence of wheezy symptoms in the Central North Region. The present study wa s carried out to test the null hypothesis that there is no correlation betw een potential exposure to pediatricians (measured as pediatric private clin ics/1000 childhood population/week) and percentage of children aged 13-15 y ears of age responding positively in the questionnaire to having had wheezy symptoms. A significant, positive correlation was found between potential exposure to pediatricians and percentage of children aged 13-15 years respo nding positively to having had wheeze in the previous year (p=0.009). A neg ative correlation was also found for severity of asthma (>12 attacks in the previous 12 months) and potential exposure to pediatricians (p=0.01), This is the first report of potential exposure to pediatricians influencing the regional incidence of asthma on a national basis. This skew may be caused by the greater exposure of pediatricians to patients with severe forms of a sthma in a hospital setting, and hence a higher index of suspicion for the milder forms of the disease, Asthma may be less severe in regions where the re are a greater number of pediatricians because of recognition of the cond ition with appropriate treatment and/or prophylaxis.