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