Journal of Asthma and Allergy (Sep 2022)
Risk Factors of Childhood Asthma Among Patients Attending a Tertiary Care Centre in North-East India
Abstract
Himamoni Deka,1 Putul Mahanta,2 Sultana Jesmin Ahmed,3 Madhab Ch Rajbangshi,4 Ranjumoni Konwar,5 Bharati Basumatari5 1Depatment of Anatomy, Gauhati Medical College, Guwahati, Assam, India; 2Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Assam Medical College, Dibrugarh, Assam, India; 3Department of Community Medicine, Assam Medical College, Dibrugarh, Assam, India; 4Department of Surgery, Tezpur Medical College and Hospital, Tezpur, Assam, India; 5Department of Radiology, Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Medical College and Hospital, Barpeta, Assam, IndiaCorrespondence: Putul Mahanta, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Assam Medical College and Hospital, Dibrugarh, Assam, 786002, India, Tel +919435017802, Email [email protected]: Asthma is a chronic lung illness marked by a reversible airway blockage. Both genetic and environmental factors influence higher asthma rates. The present study aims to assess the various socio-demographic and environmental factors influencing the causation of childhood asthma among patients attending the Paediatric Department of Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Assam.Materials and Methods: A total of 150 clinically diagnosed asthma patients of 3– 12 years as cases and patients of the same age group free from respiratory diseases with no history of asthma in a 1:1 ratio as controls were selected. A predesigned and pretested proforma was used to collect data, and written informed consent was obtained from all the legal guardians of the participants. Data were analyzed by chi-square test and binary logistic regression using SPSS V20, considering a p-value < 0.05 significant.Results: Urban and male children were found to be at higher risk of developing asthma. Children belonging to the urban locality (OR= 4.53; 95% CI: 1.57– 13.09; p< 0.05), damp environment (OR= 5.21; 95% CI: 1.23– 22.10; p< 0.05), lower socioeconomic status (OR= 3.48; 95% CI: 1.34– 9.01; p< 0.05), presence of pets (OR= 6.77; 95% CI: 1.76– 25.99; p< 0.05), family history of atopy/ allergy (OR= 43.29; 95% CI: 5.80– 323.15 p< 0.05), smoking/passive smoking (OR=23.54; 95% CI: 1.41– 394.21 p< 0.05) and mixed feeding (OR= 4.47; 95% CI: 1.46– 13.63 p< 0.05) were the significant risk factors of childhood asthma.Conclusion: Children are vulnerable to environmental-induced asthma. Awareness and preventive measures are necessary to control and reduce the burden of childhood asthma.Keywords: asthma, environmental factors, children, allergy, atopy
