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Volume 3 Issue 1 (January - March, 2015)

Original Articles

Severity of Asthma and Association with Dietary Habits in Children
Saksham Srivastava, Ashvini Kumar

Background: Childhood asthma is the most common chronic disease in childhood. The prevalence and severity of asthma in children has increased over the last few decades. The present study was conducted to determine the cases of asthma in children. Materials & Methods: This study was conducted on 160 children having asthma. Age matched 160 children with intermittent asthma was considered as control. The severity of asthma was assessed based on the clinical criteria recommended by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), and was classified as intermittent asthma or persistent asthma (mild, moderate or severe). Results: Group I had 90 boys and 70 girls whereas group II had 110 boys and 50 girls. Allergens in home were seen in 146 in group I and 140 in group II. Maternal smoking was observed in 42 in group I and 16 in group II. The difference was significant (P- 0.01). Gestational age (<37 weeks) was seen in 32 in group I and 20 in group II. Birth weight (<2.5 Kg) was 42 in group I and 56 in group II. Family history was positive in 96 and 102 in both groups. Family history of allergic rhinitis was seen in 132 in group I and 148 in group II. Passive smoking was seen in 75 in group I and 86 in group II. Maternal education (<10 years) was 84 in group I and 92 in group II. The difference was non- significant (P> 0.05). The consumption of dietary items (>3 times/week) was seen. Following items such as milk in group I (152) and group II (154), vegetables in group I (148) and group II (142), meat in group I (130) and group II (152), fish in group I (132) and group II (27), eggs in group I (81) and group II (76), soft drinks in group I (75) and group II (80), pulses in group I (144) and group II (136), butter in group I (126) and group II (134) and fruits in group I (112) and group II (137). The difference was non- significant (P> 0.05). Conclusion: Asthma in children is quite common. There was no significant role of diet in asthma. Potential allergens are indoor allergens such as dust. Maternal smoking found to be one of causative factor.
Key words:  Allergen, Asthma, Maternal smoking.

Corresponding author: Dr. Ashvini Kumar, Associate Professor, Department of Paediatrics, Career Institute of Medical Science and Hospital, Lucknow U.P., India

This article may be cited as: Srivastava S, Kumar A. Severity of Asthma and Association with Dietary Habits in Children. J Adv Med Dent Scie Res 2015;3(1):219-221.

 
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