INCIDENCE OF PRENATAL AND POSTNATAL RISK FACTORS FOR CHILDHOOD ASTMA

Abstract

Asthma is one of the most frequent chronic diseases of childhood. Its etiology is not fully understood and risk factors for its development are numerous. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of prenatal and postnatal risk factors in children suffering from asthma. The study was conducted on a sample of 100 patients with a diagnosis of asthma according to Global Initiative for Asthma guidelines. The data was collected using a questionnaire. We have considered prenatal (smoking during pregnancy, hormone and antibiotic therapy, the use of acetaminophen and dietary supplements, maternal blood sugar level, the term of delivery and the method of childbirth) and postnatal risk factors (oxygen and antibiotic therapy during the first year of life, immunization status during the first 6 months of life and presence of the older sibling in the family). In our study group, the most common prenatal risk factors related to asthma were: smoking during pregnancy, hormone therapy, the use of the dietary supplements and delivery via Caesarean section, while the most frequently found postnatal risk factors were: antibiotic therapy during the first year of life and the presence of older child in the family.