ASTHMA AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

We evaluated the clinical data of 893 children with asthmatic crisis treated in the emergency room at our institution between January 1, 1983 and December 31, 1984. Age and sex of the patients as well as the number of cases admitted to the hospital in relation to the total number of patients that consulted the emergency service were analyzed, and a correlation with environmental conditions (air pollution, meteorological data, pollen levels) was established. The highest incidence of bronchospasms was observed in the Fall, but no significant relationship was noticed between asthmatic attacks and meteorological data or concentration of airborne pollutants. During high-pollution days, however, there was an increase in the number of asthmatic attacks. Analysis of variance showed a significant correlation between asthmatic crises and air pollution in children under 3 years of age. These results should be cautiously considered and only further studies over the next years can provide definite conclusions.