[Analysis of 83 bronchospasm episodes seen at urgent care during one spring night].
BACKGROUND
The new treatments for the bronchial inflammation in asthma, have contributed to decrease the mortality rate. However, there is still a group of population with no diagnosis fo asthma, who requires urgent medical attention in situations such as air pollution or risen pollen levels. On 2nd June 2000, 83 subjects with an acute crisis of asthma, came to the Emergency Room in our Hospital in just 6 hours, coinciding with the highest annual pollen measurement and a strong storm.


RESULTS
Personal data from those 83 patients, medical behaviour at the Casualty and post-attention recommendations were considered for analysis. 21 % never had previous diagnosis of asthma and 93 % followed no regular medical control. 61.45 % did no treatment. A chest radiography was taken in 53.76 % of the patients. Salbutamol was administrated in most of them (92.18 %) and parentally administration of steroids in 23.47 %. 21 % were referred to an specialist.


CONCLUSIONS
A significant rate of asthmatics is under-diagnosed, under-controlled and under-treated. Public Health authorities should consider the creation of new Allergy Units, a fluid communication between general practitioners and specialists, and the monitorization of pollen recounts with special plans of emergency situations to contribute to solve this problem.
Domínguez Ortega
J
J
Servicio de Alergia. Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, España, Spain. jdort@mixmail.com
Martín Santos
S
S
Hinojosa Mena-Bernal
J
J
Alonso Llamazares
A
A
Llamas
C
C
Plaza
A
A
Robledo
J
J
Martínez-Cócera
C
C
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D001986:Bronchial Spasm / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D020024:Leukotriene Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D006109:Poaceae; D011058:Pollen; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D012621:Seasons; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D020024:Leukotriene Antagonists