MODERATE PERSISTENT ASTHMA IN CHILDREN;

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study is to compare the effects of inhaledbeclomethasone with oral montelukast in long term management of moderate persistent asthmain children. Design: Quasi experimental study. Period: 6 months, from July 20,2007 to January20, 2008. Settings: Out patient paediatric department at Fauji Foundation hospital, Rawalpindi.Material and Methods: 8o children between 5-12yrs of age presenting with moderate persistentasthma, divided in two groups of 40 each. Group A treated with beclomethasone inhaler whileGroup B was started on oral montelukast. Drugs effect was recorded on a 2 wkly proforma for 8weeks. Results: There were 54(67.5%) male and 26(33%) female. Most common triggeringfactor seen in 54(67.5%) patients was recent history of respiratory tract infection, exposure tocarpet dust in 43(53.75%), cigarette smoke in 42(52.5%),recent psychological stress in 28(35%) ,pollen allergy in 26 (32.5%) , pets exposure in 8 (10%) and to mite was noticed in 5(6.25%)children. Marked improvement was observed in day time cough in group A with 10(25%) patientsbeing free of cough with inhaler, while 20(50%) showed mild intermittent symptoms. 1(2.5%)showed mild persistent symptoms. In Group B 3(7.5%) patients were symptom free,23(57.5%)with mild intermittent and 4(10%) with mild persistant symptoms while 6(15%)continued to have moderate persistent symptoms. P value was 0.01. Regarding day timebreathlessness, P value was significant of 0.258. Similarly marked improvement was observed innight symptoms of breathlessness, cough and sleeplessness in both groups. P value was lessthan 0.05 in majority of the variables showing statistically significant improvement with inhaledbeclomethasone than with oral montelukast. Conclusions: Inhaled beclom