BOSTON, MA (October 27, 2017) – Asthma and allergies are related, and many people who suffer from asthma have allergies that trigger their asthma. Research being presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology’s (ACAAI) Annual Scientific Meeting examines the relationship between medical history and allergic reactions in children, and how long they stayed in the hospital after an asthma attack.

Children in the study had been tested for allergies to dust, grass, mold, ragweed, dog, cat, cockroach and other common allergens. “There was no significant association between the number of things a child might be allergic to and the level of treatment received for their asthma in the hospital,” says Mona Liu, MD, lead author of the study.  “However, we found a family history of asthma and the patient’s own history of eczema were significantly associated with a more severe hospital experience.”

The more severe hospital experience included admission to the intensive care unit, longer length of stay, increased oxygen and more hours of continuous use of albuterol, an asthma rescue medication.

Dr. Liu and her colleagues studied 39 children between ages 1 and 17 admitted to a hospital for asthma. “Out of the patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), 62 percent had family history of asthma. Only 14 percent of patients who were admitted to the hospital but not to the ICU had a similar family history. In addition, if the child had eczema, that was associated with longer hospital stay and continuous albuterol.”

The association with eczema is of interest since previous studies have suggested eczema may contribute to the inflammation of asthma,” says allergist Peck Y. Ong, MD, ACAAI member and study co-author. “We are working on a larger sample size to confirm our findings. These findings may help us identify children who are more likely to have a more severe hospitalization for asthma.”

Abstract Title: History of Eczema is Associated With More Severe Hospital Course in Children Hospitalized for Asthma.
Author: Mona Liu, MD

For more information about allergies and to locate an allergist in your area, visit AllergyandAsthmaRelief.org. The ACAAI Annual Scientific Meeting is October 26-30, 2017 at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, MA. For more news and research from the ACAAI Annual Scientific Meeting, go to our press kit  – and follow the conversation on Twitter #ACAAI17.

About ACAAI
The ACAAI is a professional medical organization of more than 6,000 allergists-immunologists and allied health professionals, headquartered in Arlington Heights, Ill. The College fosters a culture of collaboration and congeniality in which its members work together and with others toward the common goals of patient care, education, advocacy and research. ACAAI allergists are board-certified physicians trained to diagnose allergies and asthma, administer immunotherapy, and provide patients with the best treatment outcomes. For more information and to find relief, visit AllergyandAsthmaRelief.org. Join us on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter.