title: Morbidity pattern of children with asthma: a prospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the morbidity pattern of asthma in children attending the paediatric asthma follow-up clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Longitudinal prospective follow up of hundred and four patients, diagnosed as asthma, over a period of 2 years was done. Regular follow up by the same person during each visit and proper supervision of standard treatment along with parental education regarding the asthma, was done.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of children presenting with asthma was 6.7 years. Majority of children 49 (47.5%) were graded as mild persistent asthma. Fifty nine (56.7%) children were missing school more than 7 days per month. Family history was present in forty one percent of the children. Fifty seven (54.8%) children were taking significant amount of junk food and were undernourished. Significant reduction in school-missing days and Emergency Room visits was noted in these children during the follow up period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Awareness of disease is an important aspect of asthma management. Proper treatment and follow up with emotional support and education of the care taker, about the asthma, can reduce the morbidity pattern of asthma in children.
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Department, Kathmandu Medical College, Kathmandu, Nepal.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Manandhar
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Bajracharya
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dhakal
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shrestha
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D000293:Adolescent; D000359:Aftercare / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017677:Age Distribution; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019468:Disease Management; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009017:Morbidity; D009390:Nepal / Q000453:epidemiology; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires