Air quality and pediatric asthma-related emergencies.
BACKGROUND
Previous studies suggest a relationship between air pollutants, aeroallergens, and asthma exacerbations.


OBJECTIVE
To simultaneously examine the role of seasonality, air quality, aeroallergens, and climate on asthma-related pediatric emergency department (ED) visits.


METHODS
A retrospective 4-year study of asthma-related ED visits was conducted.


RESULTS
September had the highest number of visits (p < 0.01). There were lower temperatures and precipitation (p < 0.01) and higher tree and weed pollen levels (p = 0.05) on days with more visits (p = 0.05), while grass pollen, mold, ozone, NO2, and PM2.5 levels showed no significant differences.


CONCLUSIONS
Asthma-related visits were associated with aeroallergens and climatic factors and not air-quality factors.
D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D004630:Emergencies / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012621:Seasons; D014887:Weather