Epidemiological characteristics and treatment status of bronchial asthma among children in Chaoyang District,Shantou City

Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics and treatment status of bronchial asthma amongchildren in Chaoyang District of Shantou City,and to provide evidence for the prevention and control of bronchial asthma amongchildren.Methods The cluster sampling method was used to collect children with bronchial asthma from 0-14 years old in Chaoyang District of Shantou City. The epidemiological characteristics and treatment status of children with bronchial asthma were collected and analyzed by centralized sampling and telephone return visits. Questionnaire survey was used to obtain the basic information and the status of prevention and treatment. SPSS 18. 0 softwarewas used to analyz the data.Results A total of 260 questionnaires were distributed in this survey,and a total of 240 questionnaires were collected. The response rate was 92. 31%. There were 156 male patients and 84 female patients. The disease occurs in all seasons of the year,and the peak incidence occurs in the winter and spring (35. 4%). More than half of children with asthma have an indefinite form of attack,and 75. 8% of the children wereaffected by upper respiratory tract infection. The type of asthma patient group is dominated by scattered children. Majority (75. 4%) ofthe children with asthma attacks had previously used antibiotics,followed by bronchodilators (59. 6%),followed by systemic hormones (57. 1%),inhaled hormones (53. 8%),and antiallergic drugs (48. 3%). Antibiotics,bronchodilators and hormonal drugs werestill the main treatments for asthma attacks. There are only 25 children' families which have received education about prevention and treatment of asthma,accounting for 10. 4% of all families.Conclusions The focus of prevention and control of children with bronchial asthma in Chaoyang District of Shantou City is scattered children aged 4 and under in the winter and spring. Antibiotics are the primary treatment drugs. Improving knowledge about asthma prevention and education is beneficial to reduce the incidence of children.