Abstract

An entire school year of 8-9 year old schoolchildren in Sheffield were surveyed using the core questions of the international study of asthma and allergies in childhood in order to assess the morbidity associated with diagnosed asthma. Of 5321 children surveyed, replies were obtained from 4539 (85.3%). A current diagnosis of asthma was reported in 466 (10.3%), and a further 6.4% reported symptoms compatible with significant undiagnosed asthma. A validated questionnaire was used to assess symptoms and perceived disability in 336 (72.1%) of the children with diagnosed asthma. One third reported symptoms every day or most days, while 15.3% reported frequent nocturnal symptoms. There was no significant difference in reported symptoms between those receiving inhaled steroids, sodium cromoglycate, or no prophylaxis. Despite this, parents of children receiving inhaled steroids perceived more disability, and worried more about their children's health. It is concluded that perceived symptoms and morbidity are high in children with diagnosed asthma, and speculate that level of treatment is determined by parental tolerance of symptoms as much as by the symptoms themselves.