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Teach, S.J., Gergen, P.J., Szefler, S.J., Mitchell, H.E., Calatroni, A., Wildfire, J., Bloomberg, G.R., Kercsmar, C.M., Liu, A.H., Makhija, M.M., Matsui, E., Morgan, W., O’Connor, G. and Busse, W.W. (2015) Seasonal Risk Factors for Asthma Exacerbations among Inner-City Children. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 135, 1465-73.e5.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2014.12.1942

has been cited by the following article:

• TITLE: Pattern of Acute Asthma Seen in Children Emergency Department of the River State University Teaching Hospital Portharcourt Nigeria

  AUTHORS: Uchenna C. Onubogu, Edith Owate

  KEYWORDS: Asthma Exacerbation, Emergency, Seasonal Variation, Children, Nigeria, Africa

  JOURNAL NAME: Open Journal of Respiratory Diseases, Vol.9 No.4, October 14, 2019

  ABSTRACT: Acute exacerbations of asthma are one of the leading causes of emergency room visits and hospitalizations in children. Asthma exacerbations also demonstrate a seasonal pattern in which high rates can be seen at a particular season and knowledge of the seasonal pattern of asthma exacerbation in any locality can improve asthma management. Objective: To determine the prevalence, management outcome and seasonal pattern of emergency department visits for acute exacerbation of asthma. Methods: This was a retrospective review of the emergency department register of all asthma admissions in the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Portharcourt, Nigeria over a five year period from January 2014 to December 2018. Results: A total of 205 (2.9%) asthma-related visits were recorded out of 7046 emergency room visits. The mean age of the patients was 6.1 (±4.2) yrs, with an M:F ratio of 1.97:1. The median length of hospital stay was 24 hrs. Children older than 11 yrs were more likely to be admitted for >48 hrs (OR 4.18, 95% CI; 1.67, 10.39, P; 0.003). Emergency department visits for asthma were more in the rainy season April-September 129 (63.9%) with a peak in May. There is a significant variation in the seasonal pattern of emergency room asthma admission with age (P = 0.018). Children >3 yrs have their highest admission rates in May while younger children experience two peaks in February and November. Conclusion: Asthma exacerbation is more in rainy season among children in Portharcourt although there is a variation in seasonal pattern of asthma exacerbation with age.