Search

Abstract Background Asthma is a common and potentially serious chronic disease that imposes a substantial burden on patients, their families, and the community. Objectives The aim of this study was to find a correlation between precipitating factors of acute asthma attacks of patients attending to emergency departments and different factors such as socioeconomic status. Methods The study included patients 2–12 years old of both sexes who were already diagnosed with bronchial asthma coming to ER with acute asthmatic attacks. Data were collected by a questionnaire which includes personal data (name, age, and sex), anthropometric data, score for assessment of socioeconomic status (SES), symptoms of asthmatic attack, risk factors, mode and type of treatment, compliance to treatment, or evaluation of asthma severity and outcome of patients attending to ER. Results This study included 170 patients. Males represented 63.5% of the patients. The mean age of the patients was 5.4 ± 2.7 years. Our patients were distributed into the following: 65.9% were low SES, 22.9% were very low SES, and 11.2% were moderate SES. As regards presenting symptoms of the study group, all the patients (100%) presented to ER with cough, while 88.2% of them presented with wheezes, 85.8% presented with dyspnea, 21.2% of them presented with tightness, and only 0.01% presented with cyanosis. As regards precipitating factors of asthma, the most common precipitating factors among our patients causing attending to ER were irritant inhalers (72.4%), passive smoking (60.6%), exercise (70.5%), certain foods (45.3%), upper respiratory tract infection (12.9%), and non-compliance to asthma treatment (85.2%). The most common causes of non-compliance to treatment were family negligence and illiteracy (34.1%) and poor socioeconomic conditions (17.1%). The majority of patients (96.5%) who could be stabilized with medications were discharged, whereas a merged proportion of critically ill patients (3.5%) required ICU admission. However, no deaths were reported. Conclusion The most common precipitating factors of our patients that led to more attending to ER in the previous 6 months were exercise, irritant inhalers, and non-compliance to asthma treatment.

Background: Asthma is a common and potentially serious chronic disease that imposes a substantial burden on patients, their families, and the community. Objectives: The aim of this study was to find a correlation between precipitating factors of acute asthma attacks of patients attending to emergency departments and different factors such as socioeconomic status. Methods: The study included patients 2–12 years old of both sexes who were already diagnosed with bronchial asthma coming to ER with acute asthmatic attacks. Data were collected by a questionnaire which includes personal data (name, age, and sex), anthropometric data, score for assessment of socioeconomic status (SES), symptoms of asthmatic attack, risk factors, mode and type of treatment, compliance to treatment, or evaluation of asthma severity and outcome of patients attending to ER. Results: This study included 170 patients. Males represented 63.5% of the patients. The mean age of the patients was 5.4 ± 2.7 years. Our patients were distributed into the following: 65.9% were low SES, 22.9% were very low SES, and 11.2% were moderate SES. As regards presenting symptoms of the study group, all the patients (100%) presented to ER with cough, while 88.2% of them presented with wheezes, 85.8% presented with dyspnea, 21.2% of them presented with tightness, and only 0.01% presented with cyanosis. As regards precipitating factors of asthma, the most common precipitating factors among our patients causing attending to ER were irritant inhalers (72.4%), passive smoking (60.6%), exercise (70.5%), certain foods (45.3%), upper respiratory tract infection (12.9%), and non-compliance to asthma treatment (85.2%). The most common causes of non-compliance to treatment were family negligence and illiteracy (34.1%) and poor socioeconomic conditions (17.1%). The majority of patients (96.5%) who could be stabilized with medications were discharged, whereas a merged proportion of critically ill patients (3.5%) required ICU admission. However, no deaths were reported. Conclusion: The most common precipitating factors of our patients that led to more attending to ER in the previous 6 months were exercise, irritant inhalers, and non-compliance to asthma treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Introduction Acute asthma attack is one of the most common causes of visits to hospital emergency departments in all age groups of the population and accounts for the greater part of healthcare burden from the disease. Despite, Acute asthma attack is an important public health problem that affects not only the patients, but also to the family, health professionals, health care institutions and development of the nation, little is known about the risk factors of acute asthma attack. Therefore, this study is aimed to investigate the determinants of acute asthma attack among. Objective The aim of this study was to assess the determinant factors of acute asthma attack among adult asthmatic patients visiting general hospitals of central zone, Tigray, Ethiopia, 2019. Method Hospital based unmatched case control study design was conducted in general hospitals of central zone of Tigray, Ethiopia 2019. Data were collected using pretested interviewer administered questionnaire. A total of 289 study subjects (96 cases &193 controls) were selected by systematic random sampling. Data were entered to Epi data version 3.1 then exported to SPSS version 23 for analysis. Bivariate logistic regression was employed to examine the statistical association between dependent and independent variables. Variables with p value

Objective: To explore the effect of terbutaline sulfate combined with shunning on acute attack of asthma complicated with lobar pneumonia in children. Methods: One hundred and fifty children with acute attack of asthma and lobar pneumonia were randomly divided into routine group (seventy-five cases) and combined group (seventy-five cases). The routine group was given routine treatment. The study group was treated with routine therapy plus terbutaline sulfate plus shunning. The changes of pulmonary function and serum inflammatory factors before and after treatment, clinical effect and safety were compared between the two groups. Results: Respiratory time/inspiratory time (Ti/Te), peak time ratio (TPTEF/TE), peak volume ratio (VPEF/VE), tidal volume per kilogram (Vt/kg) were increased in both groups after treatment (P < 0.05), which in the combined group were higher than the routine group after treatment (P < 0.05). After treatment, serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) in both groups decreased significantly (P < 0.05), and those in the combined group were lower than those in the routine group (P < 0.05). There was a significant difference in clinical effect distribution between the two groups (P < 0.05). The total effective rate of the combined group was higher than that of the routine group (P < 0.05). The incidence of adverse reactions in the combined group was slightly higher than that in the routine group (P> 0.05). Conclusion: On the basis of routine treatment, terbutaline sulfate combined with shunning can significantly improve pulmonary function and serum inflammatory factors in children with acute attack of asthma and lobar pneumonia, with ideal effect and safe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Prolonged QTc interval in children may be congenital or acquired. It could be fatal if it induces tachyarrhythmias and cardiac arrest. Objectives: This work studied the QTc interval in acute asthma attacks and its relation to the severity of the attack and the bronchodilators used. Patients and Methods: This is a descriptive prospective study of 30 children with moderate and severe asthma. Patients were divided according to GINA guidelines 2016: Group 1:10 patients with moderate acute attack, Group Il: 20 patients with severe acute attack. 12 lead ECG was done before start of medication, then repeated daily till discharge. QTc interval measured in lead V5 using Bazett Formula was considered prolonged if>445msec. Results: Our study showed that 4 patients (13%) developed prolonged QTc interval; 3 (75%) had severe attack and one (25%) had moderate attack. QTc interval increased with number of bronchodilators used, but not reaching statistical significance. On day2, QTc was 340—435msec in patients on 2 medications and 350—460msec in patients on 3 medications. However, on 3rd day QTc interval was between 348-410msec,346— 420msec,350—446msec in patients having 1, 2, 3 medications respectively. Also, there was no relation between theophylline and prolonged QTc interval. Conclusion: Prolonged QTc interval can occur in 13% of children with moderate and severe asthma. QTc interval increased with number of bronchodilators used yet not reaching statistical significance. Bronchodilators must be used judiciously since they might be potentially arrhythmogenic drugs that induce fatal arrhythmia . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recent evidence about the various effects of vitamin D (vit D) on innate and adaptive immunity has led to a search for the role of vit D in asthma. It is postulated that a decrease in cathelicidin, a multifunctional host defense molecule, production due to low vit D status may predispose to infectious complications in children with asthma. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the association of vit D, vit D-binding protein (VDBP) and cathelicidin with acute asthma attacks among children with allergic asthma. Methods: This prospective study included 35 patients with acute asthma attack and 32 children with controlled asthma, and all were matched by sampling season, sensitization to mites, and previous severity of asthma. A comprehensive questionnaire about risk factors, blood sampling for 25-hydroxyvitamin D vit D, VDBP, and cathelicidin levels; spirometric indices were used. Factors that influence serum vit D and cathelicidin levels and the development of asthma attacks were evaluated with multivariate analysis. Results: The mean serum vit D levels of the attack group was significantly lower than that of the controlled asthma group (p < 0.001). The mean cathelicidin level was significantly higher in the acute asthma group than with the controlled subjects with asthma (p = 0.002). There was no difference between the acute and controlled asthma groups in terms of markers of allergy and serum VDBP levels. Risk factors that may influence vit D levels revealed that body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.038), duration of sun exposure (p < 0.001), and amount of dietary vit D (p < 0.001) independently affected serum vit D levels. Risk factors that may result in acute asthma showed that low serum levels of vit D were significantly related to the risk of asthma attacks (p < 0.001, adjusted odds ratio 16.11). Cathelicidin levels showed a significant positive association with asthma attacks and BMI. Conclusions: Vit D deficiency showed a significant relationship to the development of asthma attacks independent of cathelicidin deficiency and other factors associated with the severity of chronic asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asthma is the most common chronic disorders of the respiratory tract. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWHs) in the treatment of acute asthma. In this randomized clinical trial, patients with acute asthma attacks were enrolled. The patients were divided randomly into two groups. Patients in the intervention group received nebulized LMWH (1 mg/kg) with albuterol (2.5 mg) every 20 min for 10 min. The patients in the control group received nebulized albuterol with the same dose. Then peak expiratory flow rates (PEFR) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), and hemodynamic parameters in both groups were assessed for every 20 min. In total 70 patients enrolled in this study. We found that the mean PEFR at 40 min was higher in the LMWH group than the control group (202.51 L/min and 180.2 L/min) (p = 0.001). Moreover, this difference remains significant in the 60th minute (p < 0.001). Further, FEV1 was significantly higher in the LMWH group after 60 min (1.82 L/min vs 1.48 L/min, p < 0.001). Moreover, we found that the hemodynamic parameters were sustainable in the intervention group. The study suggests that LMWH in mild-moderate asthma attacks may be beneficial in the short term and could be prescribed in addition to standard albuterol therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite growing evidence suggesting potential association between innate and adaptive immunity in viral-induced acute asthma, there is paucity of data in this area., Objective: This study aimed to investigate the association of innate and adaptive immunity with acute asthma attacks by analysing the role of IFN-γ-inducible protein 10 (IP-10), TLR2, cathelicidin, vitamin D and cytokines., Material and Methods: This prospective study included 33 patients with viral-induced acute asthma and 30 children with controlled asthma. Nasopharyngeal swab samples were collected for virus identification and asthma attack scores assessed in acute asthma group. Blood sampling for IP-10, TLR2, cathelicidin, vitamin D levels, and spirometric indices were employed., Results: Serum IP-10 and cathelicidin levels of acute asthma group were significantly higher and vitamin D levels were lower than controlled asthma group (IP-10; p=0.006, cathelicidin; p=0.002, vitamin D; p<0.001). Serum IP-10 levels showed a significant negative correlation with age (p=0.009), TLR2 (p=0.05) and spirometric indices (p=0.002) in all asthmatics and a significant positive correlation with parameters of asthma attack severity (p=0.03) in acute asthma group. Higher cathelicidin values showed significant positive relation to IP-10 (beta coefficient: 33, p=0.02). Serum IP-10 levels higher than 38.9pg/ml (sensitivity: 85%, specificity: 47%, p=0.002) were predictive of virus-induced asthma. Serum IP-10 and vitamin D levels were found to be significantly related to viral-asthma attacks (IP-10; aOR: 8.93, p=0.03 and vitamin D; aOR: 0.82, p=0.001)., Conclusions: Innate immunity biomarkers such as serum IP-10 and cathelicidin can be used to predict viral-induced acute asthma. These biomarkers may provide potential new treatment targets for acute asthma., (Copyright © 2016 SEICAP. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Background: In this study, we compared the clinical and immunological efficacy of nebulized corticosteroid (CS) to systemic route during treatment of moderate asthma attack in children., Methods: In this randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, double-dummy, prospective study, 81 children aged 12 months to 16 years experiencing asthma attack randomized into two treatment groups to receive, either; nebulized fluticasone propionate (n = 39, 2000 mcg/day) or oral methylprednisolone (n = 41, 1 mg/kg/day). Pulmonary index scores (PIS) were assessed at admission and at 1st, 4th, 8th, 12th, 24th, 48th hours, as well as, on day 7 and peak expiratory flow (PEF) at baseline and at the 7th day. Daily symptom and medication scores were recorded for all subjects. Immunological studies included phytohemagglutinin induced peripheral blood mononuclear cells culture supernatant for cytokine responses and CD4(+) CD25(+) FOXP3(+) T regulatory cell (T reg) percentage at baseline and day 7., Results: The changes in PIS and PEF were similar in both treatment groups, with a significant improvement in both values at the 7th day, when compared to baseline. In both groups, significant reductions in symptom and medication scores were observed during the treatment period with no significant difference between the groups. At day 7 of intervention, phytohemagglutinin induced IL-4 level was significantly decreased only in the nebulized group compared to baseline (p = 0.01). Evaluation of cytokine responses by means of fold increase (stimulated (S)/unstimulated (US) ratio) revealed a significant reduction in IL-4, IL-5 and IL-17 only in nebulized group (p = 0.01, 0.01, 0.02; respectively). The fold increase value of IL-5 was significantly lower at 7th day in nebulized group when compared to systemic one (p = 0.02). At 7th day, although in both treatment groups the percentage of T reg cells was suppressed, it remained significantly higher in the nebule one when compared to systemic route (p = 0.04)., Conclusion: In the management of moderate acute asthma attack, nebulized CS (2000 mcg daily) was found to be as effective as systemic route with regard to clinical improvement. In addition, immunological parameters were more in favor of nebulized route which may imply a salutary effect of local CS usage., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)