Day care and asthma morbidity
G. J. Connett, MD, Overseas Fellow. C. J. Connett, SRN, Research Nurse. S. C. Quek, MMed, Lecturer. B. W. Lee, MD, Associate Professor.
Abstract
An association between attendance at day care centres and lower respiratory symptoms among pre-school asthmatic children who were attending follow-up appointments at a specialist respiratory outpatient clinic was studied. Parents of 69 children completed a questionnaire. Because of the variation in the age distribution of the two groups, analysis was restricted to children aged 2-4 years old; results from 49 children were analysed. Cough, wheeze at night and wheeze on waking occurred significantly more frequently in the two weeks prior to clinic visits among asthmatics attending day care. Among asthmatic children requiring specialist outpatient follow up, those attending day care are more likely to be troubled by lower respiratory symptoms than those looked after at home.
