ĐẶC ĐIỂM LÂM SÀNG, CẬN LÂM SÀNG VÀ MỘT SỐ YẾU TỐ LIÊN QUAN ĐẾN MỨC ĐỘ NẶNG CỦA CƠN HEN PHẾ QUẢN CẤP Ở TRẺ DƯỚI 5 TUỔI TẠI BỆNH VIỆN ĐA KHOA TÂM TRÍ ĐÀ NẴNG

Abstract

Objectives: To describe clinical and laboratory characteristics and identify factors associated with severity of acute asthma exacerbation in children under five years old.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 57 hospitalized children diagnosed with acute asthma exacerbation at Tam Tri Da Nang General Hospital from April 2024 to April 2025.

Results: Cough, dyspnea, and wheezing/rhonchi were observed in all patients (100%). Other common manifestations included use of accessory respiratory muscles (82.5%), rhinorrhea (28.1%), fever (15.8%), wheezing (14.0%), and crackles (14.0%). Leukocytosis and neutrophilia were frequently detected, accounting for 78.9% and 64.9% of cases, respectively, while eosinophilia was uncommon (5.3%). Elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were found in 43.9% of patients and were significantly more common in children aged 2–5 years than in those under 2 years of age (53.5% vs. 14.3%, p = 0,016). Chest radiographs predominantly showed peribronchial thickening (75.0%). No statistically significant associations were found between age group, history of allergy, leukocytosis, neutrophilia, eosinophilia, and the severity of acute asthma exacerbation. Preventive asthma treatment was significantly associated with the severity of acute asthma exacerbations, with a lower proportion of severe exacerbations observed among children receiving preventive therapy.

Conclusions: Cough, dyspnea, and wheezing/rhonchi were the predominant clinical manifestations of acute asthma exacerbations in children under five years of age. Leukocytosis, neutrophilia, and elevated CRP levels were common laboratory findings. Preventive asthma therapy was the only factor significantly associated with the severity of acute asthma exacerbations.