RATIONALE:We assessed important risk factors (sensitization, family history or rhinitis) for the development of asthma severity in children. METHODS: Chart review of patients with persistent asthma attending on outpatient allergy clinic. Skin prick test (SPT) were performed with common local inhalant allergens and were considered positive if wheal size was > 3mm greater than control. Parental history was considered positive if father mother or sibling had a consistent history of atopic disease (asthma, rhinitis and eczema).Asthma severity and rhinitis diagnosis were considered according to GINA and ARIA protocols. RESULTS: From 2000 -2004, 831 outpatients were worked-up for asthma (mild = 320 [38,5%], moderate = 452 [54,5%] and severe = 59 [7,0%]). SPT was performed in 700 patients, of these, 146 (52,9%) , 229(61,4%) and 32 (62,7%) respectively had positive result to at least one of the allergens tested (p<0,01). Family history was positive for 186 (58,1%), 283 (62,6%), 35 (59,3%) respectively for mild, moderated and severe asthma. (p>0,05)The presence of rhinitis was observed in 237 (74,1%) with mild asthma, 372 (82,3%) with moderated and 52 (88.1%) with severe asthma (p<0,005). CONCLUSIONS: Moderate asthma was the most frequent presentation in this population sample. Rhinitis and atopic sensitization were risk factors associated with asthma severity. In contrast, family history did not show association with severity of asthma.
