Behavior of bronchial asthma in a health area of the "Cerro" polyclinic

Introduction: bronchial asthma is the more frequent chronic disease in Pediatrics and one of the major causes of consultation. Objective: to describe the behavior of bronchial asthma as a health problem. Methods: a longitudinal, prospective and descriptive study was conducted in 309 children aged between 0 and 19 diagnosed with bronchial asthmas seen in the 15 medical consulting rooms of A basic work group of "Cerro" University polyclinic from January 1, 2007 to December, 31, 2007. An empirical method was used to obtain the epidemiologic clinical data, and as technique, survey using a questionnaire. Results: one hundred and forty eight patients (48 %) were aged 10 and 14, 175 (56,6 %) of male sex, 136 (44 %) were classified as slight persistent, 140 (58 %) had rhinitis and 57 (24 %) had dermatitis. There were smoker relatives at home of 203 patients (98 %), overcrowding in 290 cases (94 %) and a high level of dust at home of 284 patients (92 %). Conclusions: there was male sex predominance in the 10-14 age groups. As regards disease severity the slight persistent way was more prevalent, the more frequent atopic manifestations were rhinitis and dermatitis, the major risk factors were cigarette smoke, dust at home and overcrowding, the choice treatment was that of crisis. There was a lack or organization and unity of criteria for an integral approach of the inter-crisis politic or of support in patients care.