ACTA FAC MED NAISS 2011;28(2):83-88

Original article

UDC:616.248-06-053.2

Childhood Asthma and its Comorbidities

Sanja Dimitrijević¹, Snežana Živanović^1,2, Ljiljana Šaranac^1,2

¹University of Niš, Faculty of Medicine, Serbia

²Pediatric Clinic, Clinical Center Niš, Serbia


SUMMARY

Numerous comorbidities are frequently associated with asthma and may influence the clinical expression and severity of asthma. The aim of our study was to determine the presence and prevalence of other diseases in children with asthma, both of allergic and non-allergic origin. The study included 974 non-hospital patients, of whom 669 had asthma, while 305 children had wheezing bronchitis. Allergic rhinitis was diagnosed in 196 (29.30%) patients, eczema in 31 (4.63%) patients, and rhinitis and eczema, at the same time, in 13 children (1.94%). Non-allergic diseases diagnosed in children with asthma were: obesity in 31 (4.63%) patients, IgA deficiency in 8 (1.2%) patients, autoimmune diseases in 7 (1.05%) patients and infectious diseases in 6 (0.90%) patients. Atopic disease of childhood and their comorbidities comprise a large component of general pediatric practice and their incidence in developed countries has been increasing over the past few decades. Developing a sensible approach to the diagnosis and treatment of these disorders in an outpatient setting is essential.

Key words: asthma, childhood, comorbidity