Assessment of Knowledge and Attitude of Parents Towards the Allergy and Bronchial Asthma in Their Children

Introduction: Bronchial asthma is a chronic airway disease that affects a significant children population with limitation of their activities and school absenteeism. The objective of the present study was to assess the knowledge and attitude of the parents towards the disease in their children. Materials and Methods: A hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted in Pulmonary Medicine department in a tertiary care hospital with diagnosed asthmatic children and their parents were enrolled. Two questionnaire one comprising clinical aspects including etiology and other regarding knowledge and attitude among parents regarding asthma were administered. Results: A total of 150 children with confirmed diagnosis of asthma were included in this study. On an average, each child had already visited 3 doctors prior to coming to us. Out of 150 patients, 77% parents were ignorant regarding disease etiology, 41% parents thought that their disease is fatal, 54% parents were reluctant to accept the diagnosis of asthma. Regarding precipitating factors, 46% parents attributed the disease exacerbations due to multiple causes. Almost half of the parents had sought alternative for of medicine for management of disease with nearly one-third opting for homeopathic treatment. Oral medications were preferred by 79% patients, while inhalers were used by only 21% of children. The compliance rate in using inhalation therapy in children was very low. Conclusion: Asthma awareness among parents of asthmatic children is inadequate. Controller medications and aerosol therapy is underused and unnecessarily blamed. Awareness raising strategies are needed in community. Patient education program should augment awareness; eliminate social stigma, and misconcepts in the community regarding bronchial asthma.