Pattern of allergic co-morbidities in children with asthma in Sokoto, North Western Nigeria

Introduction: Childhood allergic diseases are common globally, with 250 million children affected. Over 25% of the world's population suffers from allergic diseases which include asthma, allergic rhinitis, eczema, conjunctivitis and drug reactions. Asthma and allergic co-morbidities affect quality of life of children and also constitute a significant burden to their parents. Objectives: To determine the allergic co-morbidities associated with childhood asthma in Sokoto and to assess relationship between asthma severity with presence of allergic co-morbidities. Methods: Descriptive, prospective cross sectional study of asthmatic children attending the Pulmonology and Allergy clinic of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto over a 1-year period.  Relevant information was obtained using a questionnaire and level of significance was set at p ? 0.05. Results: Of the 78 children enrolled, 45(57.7%) were males, 45(57.7%) were under-fives while 44(56.4%) belonged to the high socio-economic class (SEC). Allergic co-morbidities were seen in 67(85.9%); with allergic rhinitis being the commonest in 84.6%.   No significant association was observed between asthma severity and presence of allergic co-morbidities (Fischer