527 Evaluation of the September Epidemic of Asthma Exacerbation in Children in Our Practice

BACKGROUND: Know that the rate of asthma exacerbations are increased in September after summer vacation with the beginning of school year. Investigators have been studied this problem and it was supposed that the main cause could be the stress associated with school return what can worsen asthma symptoms. Beside this children returning to school after summer vacation are reexposed to respiratory viral infections, sensitizing allergens in the school enviroment, and can be connected with poor compliance in the medication in the summer period. METHODS: We stared to investigate that what could be the causative factors in children who suffered dyspnoe and other signs of asthmatic exacerbation from September 2008, could we present the increasing number of these patients in hospitalization rate, and could we confirm the changing compliance of the regular medication during the summer period? A short questionaire was constructed and was given the patients who were admitted to hospital (162) with asthma exacerbation symptoms. Then 45 patients were selected for a longer follow up to investigate their compliance in medication. We investigate from the database of our Hospital the asthmatic patient's admission rate from 2006. RESULTS: We could present from 2006 the increasing number of patients admitted because of asthma exacerbation in September in every year. We could present the increased number of schoolage patient among all of the admitted patients in the fall season. We compared the genders which were similar. We found that the symptom of asthma was worse in the fall season. We confirmed the higher number of patients suffering from viral infections. But the changing rate among patient who stopped the medication during summer was low as 13%. CONCLUSIONS: We could confirm the September epidemic of asthma exacerbation among our patients as well. Compare the international investigations the main cause of the September epidemic of asthma connecting with the beginning of the school year and the increasing number of viral infections at this period of the year. Fortunately our patient compliance was good but we have to continue our patients’ education from time to time.