Prevalence of childhood asthma amoung 5-11 years old children in an urban setting and its impact on the child and the family

Abstract

The present study consist of four phases:Phase 1 is a hospital based cross-sectional study for validation of the western developed CHSA questionnaire. Study population was 100 children who were diagnosed as having .Asthma. It was found that CHSA is a valid and reliable measure to assess the impact of the Disease amoung the children with childhood asthma and their caregivers.The Phase 2 of the study was the community based crosssectional study to assess the prevalence of childhood asthma and the factors associated with the childhood asthma among 1380, 5 - 11 years old children residing in the CMC area The lifetime prevalence of asthma (ever wheezing) was 22.4 present . the prevalence of wheezing during past twelve months (period prevalence) was 12.8 present child ever hadasthma was 7.4 present and exercise induced asthma prevalence was 7.00.10. Eighty percent of them were diagnosed as having asthma before the age of 4 years. No association was found between prevalence of asthma among girls boys. Prevalence of asthma was more (17.6 present) among Sinhalese children compared to other ethnic groups and this difference was significant (pO.OOI). Childhood asthma was statistically significantly associated with the f.oll.owing fact.orsChildhood asthma was statistically significantly associated with the following factors ChildHistory of eczema ( p0.05), exclusive , breast feeding beyond six months (p0.05), location .of the house near the dusty environment (pOOl), main source .of fuel as firewood (p"-1.05),place.of sleep(p0.05), the type .of mattress cover (pO.OOl), burning of mosquito coils (pO.05), birth weight less than 2.5Kg (pO.OOl), family history .of asthma (pO.OOl) and smoking habits .of the father (pO.OOl) when at home