Respiratory infections as the most important factor of severe asthma exacerbations in children

In our study we tried to determine triggers of severe asthma exacerbations in 218 children from 10 months to 18 years of age. We divided patients into two groups: 1) younger children - to 6 years of age and 2) older children - aged 7 to 18 years. Results. 1) in youger group, 134 acute episodes of asthma were associated with respiratory infections. 7 patients received to low dose of long-term treatment. In 6 cases we couldn't define casual factor of exacerbation. 2) in older group, symptoms of respiratory infection have been found in 40 patients. Emotional stress, allergen exposure, excessive exercise were associated with acute attacks of asthma in 10 children. 9 patients did not received long-term therapy. In 9 cases the cause of exacerbation was difficult to define. We concluded that respiratory infections play the most important role in induction of severe asthma exacerbations in children.