Pediatric Asthma: Prevalence and Socio-Cultural Factors Affecting Asthma Management in a Rural Area of Northern Karnataka

CONTEXT: Asthma prevalence and severity is increasing among Indian children. There is the paucity of data on pediatric asthma in rural India and treatment received by asthmatics is not up-to-standard treatment guidelines. AIM: The aim is to estimate asthma prevalence and factors influencing access to standard asthmatic care among 5–15 years aged children. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Cross-sectional study conducted in rural north-Karnataka for 1 year. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire was administered to participants followed by clinical examination. A child was considered as asthmatic if there was affirmative response to: (a) History of wheeze in the past 12 months, (b) Physician diagnosed/ever asthma, (c) history of taking inhaled/oral bronchodilators. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: All characteristics were summarized descriptively. RESULTS: Prevalence of Current-wheeze, Ever-asthma, and wheeze on exertion were 4%, 2%, and 3.7%, respectively. About 63.9% of asthmatics had severe-asthma and 44.4% reported severe attack of wheezing limiting speech. About 89% of current-wheezers used only oral medications for wheeze/asthma, 50% did not take medicines as per doctors' advice. None availed regular follow-up. Financial constraints and ignorance were major reasons cited. CONCLUSIONS: Illiteracy, poverty, lack of proper guidelines, and non-availability of inhalational medications have affected treatment adherence resulting in severe asthma.