2.1 | Data analysis
Children were grouped by age: less 36 months (infant asthma), 3 to 5 years, 6 to 11 years, and over 12 years. Management of exacerbation prior to admission to emergency rooms were considered proper if patients had repeatedly received high doses of beta-2 short-acting agonists (50 mg/kg per dose) with a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 15 puffs of salbutamol equivalent administered every 20 minutes during the first hour or its equivalent dose by nebulized therapy. The management was completed by oral corticosteroids at a dose of 1 to 2 mg/kg per day in case of known severe persistent asthma or with a risk factor for severe acute asthma or severe attack immediately or not responding within an hour to the inhaled treatment. This was in accordance with the recommendations of management of the asthma attack.
Management of the crisis was considered inappropriate when dosages were below recommendations or if it included other treatments prescribed in isolation (antibiotics, cough suppressants, inhaled corticosteroids, physiotherapy respiratory or antihistamines), including use that is not recommended. The children’s families were classified as having a low economic level if the household income was equivalent to or lower than the minimum monthly salary (MMS) in Mexico City ($5258.10 MXP/$265.30 USD). Hospitalizations were classified as short-term hospitalization (less than 24 hours) or conventional hospitalization (more than 24 hours).