Study of Clinical Characteristics and Cytokine Profiles of Asthmatic Children with Rhinovirus Infection during Acute Asthma Exacerbation at National Hospital of Pediatrics

Table 1

Clinical characteristics of study children with asthma.

Characteristics	Number ()	Percentage (%)
Age
<2 years	22	19.1
2–5 years	54	47.0
>5 years	39	33.9
Sex
Male/female	71/44	61.7
Atopy
Eczema	19	16.5
Skin rash	11	9.6
Allergic rhinitis	67	58.3
Seasonal allergy	16	13.9
Others	9	7.8
Living place
City	103	89.6
Village	12	10.4
Second-hand smoking	66	57.4
Domestic animals	82	71.3
PAS
Mild	21	18.2
Moderate	43	37.4
Severe	51	44.4

Dog or cat. PAS: pediatric asthma scores consisted of five components: (i) respiratory rate, (ii) oxygen requirement, (iii) respiratory muscle retractions, (iv) auscultation, and (v) dyspnea; each component was scored from 1 to 3 according to the severity of the symptoms as follows: (i) respiratory rate: ≤34 (2-3 years), ≤30 (4-5 years), ≤26 (6–12 years), ≤23 (>12 years)  =  1; 35–39 (2-3 years), 31–35 (4-5 years), 27–30 (6–12 years), ≤24–27 (>12 years)  =  2; ≥40 (2–3 years), ≥36 (4–5 years), ≥31 (6–12 years), ≥28 (>12 years)  =  3; (ii) oxygen requirements (peripheral capillary oxygen saturation [SpO₂]): >95% on room air  =  1; 90–95% on room air  =  2; <90% on room air or on any oxygen  =  3; (iii) respiratory muscle retractions: none or intercostal  =  1; intercostal and substernal  =  2; intercostal, substernal, and supraclavicular  =  3; (iv) auscultation: normal breath sounds to end-expiratory wheeze only  =  1; expiratory wheezing  =  2; inspiratory and expiratory wheezing  =  3; (v) dyspnoea: speaks in sentences  =  1; speaks in partial or short sentences  =  2; speaks in single words/short phrases/grunting  =  3. The total scores ranged from 5–7 for mild asthma exacerbation, 8–11 for moderate asthma exacerbation, and 12–15 for severe asthma exacerbation.