2 | METHODS
We conducted a study that included patients aged 1 to 16 years with a history of wheezing or dyspnea who were treated at the pediatric emergency departments of 5 hospitals (2 public [IMSS HGZ No.8-Hospital Ajusco Medio] and/3 private [Hospital San Angel Inn-Hospital Español-Hospital Dalinde]) in Mexico City from November 2021 to April 2022. Patients with other causes of obstructive pulmonary pathology (cystic fibrosis, bronchopulmonary dysplasia), hemodynamically significant congenital heart disease, or a history of great prematurity were excluded. A standardized questionnaire was applied to all patients by a physician and included the following:
• Socio-demographic and environmental parameters (age, sex, occupation, social security coverage (SSC), family-income, passive smoking, and distance home-hospital)
• Personal or family history (first degree) of type 2 inflammatory diseases (T2D) like atopic dermatitis, allergic rhino-conjunctivitis, and asthma
• Triggers of the exacerbation: viral, allergic, or exercise-related asthma
• Treatment before arriving at the emergency room
• Severity of exacerbation according to GINA recommendations18
• The duration of the exacerbation and the need for hospitalization
• Previous asthma diagnosis (data collected for interrogation or health record in accordance with the international recommendations)
• For patients with a history of asthma: previous anti-asthmatic treatment, compliance with prescriptions and dosages, medical follow-up of asthma (absent, carried out by a doctor general practitioner, pediatrician, or pneumo-pediatrician/pediatric allergist), the existence of a written or oral crisis action protocol and the existence of an individualized action plan