Prevalence, Management, and Treatment of Pediatric Acute Asthma in the Emergency Department: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study in Zahedan, Iran (2023)

Background: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory airway disease, and its prevalence has increased due to urbanization, technological advancements, and environmental pollution. Objectives: This study examined the prevalence, clinical presentations, asthma severity, triggering factors, and treatment responses of acute asthma in children admitted to an Emergency Department (ED) in Zahedan University of Medical Sciences. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study involved children aged 1 - 18 years who presented to the ED of Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, in 2023. After applying the exclusion criteria, 155 individuals were eligible for inclusion. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 23, with results presented as frequencies and percentages. Results: The study found that 67.1% of patients were male, with the highest proportion (42.67%) aged 1 - 5 years. About 72.3% had allergies, while respiratory infections (50.32%) and cold/dry weather (36.12%) were the most common triggers. Shortness of breath (98.7%) and cough (87.1%) were the predominant symptoms. Cases were equally divided between mild and moderate severity (43.2% each). The majority (76.2%) received beta-agonists with corticosteroids, and 56.8% required hospitalization. Conclusions: Asthma is prevalent in young boys, with infections and weather as key triggers. Standard treatment was effective, but hospitalizations indicate a significant healthcare burden. Future research should assess long-term outcomes, compare treatments, and investigate environmental/genetic influences for better asthma control.