3 | RESULTS
143 patients were enrolled with a mean age of 3.9 ± 3.3 years, and 60.1% (n = 86) were male. 49.6% (n = 71) were under three years old, 25.9% (n = 37) were three to five years old, 20.3% (n = 29) were six to 11 years old, and 4.2% (n = 6) were over the age of 12. Previous asthma diagnosis was found in 87.4% (n = 125). In all age categories combined, 69.2% (n = 99) had a moderate or severe exacerbation.
The demographic aspects and treatment prior to emergency management are presented in Table 1. No significant differences in the treatment were observed between the subgroups. The time between the first clinical signs of the crisis and the time elapsed for management in the emergency department was prolonged, and only 8.3% (n = 12) arrived at the emergency department in less than six hours (Fig. 1). The median time was 16 hours across all age categories and in children under three years of age.
In children with a history asthma (n = 125), 48.8% (n = 61) had control treatment, with adherence estimated in 70.9% of cases (n = 39). There was routine monitoring of asthma by a pediatrician, pediatric allergist/pulmonologist in 32.2% (n = 40), but was most often not done [45.2% (n = 56)]. An asthma plan protocol for exacerbation was explained to families in 36.5% of cases (n = 45), orally in 20.0% of cases (n = 25), and in written form in 16.5% of cases (n = 20). An individualized action plan was implemented in 22.7% of cases (n = 27) (Table 2).