704 Asthma and Associated Atopic Diseases in Children

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate clinical characteristics of asthma and asthma's association with other atopic diseases:allergic rhinitis(AR), allergic conjunctivitis(AC), and atopic dermatitis. Methods: One hundred children with asthma (not hospitalized) were included in the study starting from 2006 until 2009. The Asthma was diagnosed using GINA criteria and allergic rhinitis by ARIA recommendations. Anamnestic data, clinical findings, as well as routine and specific examinations were also used in the study. Results: The average age of children with asthma was 11.76 +/-; 0.09. Thirty percent of children who participated in the study had intermittent asthma.66% percent had mild and moderate persistent asthma, and four percent of children had severe persistent asthma.60% of children with asthma had allergic rhinitis. Intermittent AR was diagnosed in 12/60 children with asthma, and 50% of them had moderate severe allergic rhinitis. Persistent AR was diagnosed in 48/60 children and 35% of them had moderate severe persistent AR. All children with severe persistent asthma(AS) had moderate severe persistent AR as well. The leading symptoms in children with AR were sneezing, nasal obstruction, nasal secretion, and coughing.52% of children with AS had atopic dermatitis. Allergic conjunctivitis was associated with AS in 20% of the children who participated in the study, and 33% of children with AR had AC as well. Conclusion: AR, AC, and eczema are in comorbidity with asthma and it is necessary to identify and treat them on time, so that better control of asthma is achieved. Our study shows that both AS and AR coexist in high frequency, which points out the relationship between upper and lower airways. Therefore, potential concept of associated airway diseases should be considered.