| Objectives: We conducted a city survey on childhood asthma prevalence in Baota District of Yan'An,to understand asthma-related risk factors and provide scientific evidences for childhood asthma control and prevention in this region.Methods:(1)6 to 14-year-old children who lived in Baota district more than 1 year were enrolled into this survey.(2)Based on the method of stratified cluster random sampling,about 9000 students were selected in total from 1 to 8 grade in one primary or middle school respectively located in east,west,south and north Baota district.The National Childhood Asthma Epidemiology Questionnaire,formulated by the Asthma Epidemiology Collaboration Group on childhood asthma,was distributed to and filled by students family.(3)Case control study and logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the potential risk factors to asthma-suffering students.Results: The prevalence of childhood asthma was about 1.61% in this region,with a statistical significance(p<0.05)in the gender difference where girl and boy respectively consisted of 1.17% and 2.02%.(2)The first onset age was found 3 to 4 at most,usually with 1-5 attacks;symptoms were mostly mild and severity was the least symptoms,and accordingly hospitalization was about 1-5 times;most patients either got relieved or showed no relapse over two years.(3)Asthma could be developed all year round,more common in seasonal transition and December to February,particularly worse at bedtime and midnight.(4)The main inducement to childhood asthma was respiratory tract infection about 76.0%,followed by weather change or cold air exposure about 57.7%;the most correlated sign with asthma incidence was sneezing about 79.5%,followed by both blocked nose and itching throat about 65.7%,and runny nose about 54.7%;the mostcommon symptoms were coughing(68.6%),followed by wheezing(43.1%),breathlessness(30.7%)and shot of breath(25.5%).(5)Antibiotics,bronchodilators and inhaled steroids were the main medications for asthmatic children,accounting for57.75%,53.3% and 40.1% respectively,and only 8.8% of patients used the peak expiratory flow meter.(6)The total cost for childhood asthma treatment was mostly10,000-30,000 RMB,which most families still considered affordable;the school days was interrupted less than 10 days for 74.5% asthma children,and physical activities were basically unaffected for 61.3% asthmatic children,with 32.9% partially joining and 5.8%never.In consistent with school days affected,less than 10 working days were impacted for 65.0% of families,and a year-round impact occurred for 6.5% ones.(7)Case control study and logistic regression analysis revealed that risk factors for childhood asthma included allergic rhinitis,drug hypersensitivity,antibiotic therapy history,and mildewed on ceiling,wall or floor,smoking environment during pre/postnatal period,and that one protective factor for childhood asthma was natural childbirth.Conclusions:(1)The prevalence rate of childhood asthma in Baota distric of Yan'An was about 1.61%.(2)The common inducement to asthma was respiratory tract infection.(3)Non-standard asthma treatment existed and peak expiratory flow meter was in low utilization.(4)Children suffering from asthma brought certain burden to family and society.(5)risk factors for childhood asthma included allergic rhinitis,drug hypersensitivity,antibiotic therapy history,and mildewed on ceiling,wall or floor,smoking environment during pre/postnatal period,and that one protective factor for childhood asthma was natural childbirth. |
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