The severity of acute asthma attacks in children admitted to hospital

Abstract

One hundred and twenty-six children admitted to hospital with an acute asthmatic episode were assessed as to the severity of their attack by the use of a clinical score. Fifty-one per cent had a score which equated with severe or very severe asthma. Frequent independent scoring indicated that observer bias was minimal. The proportion of children with severe asthma admitted to hospital in Christchurch was significantly greater than a similar study in England using the same scoring system. The rise in hospital admission rates for asthma in Christchurch is not due to an increase in the admission of children with milder forms of asthma.