OBJECTIVEThe incidence of childhood asthma is growing. This study aimed to find the changes of clinical features of childhood asthma over a 20-year period.

METHODSThe medical data of 200 children with asthma between May 1986 and February 1988 (group 1) and of another 200 asthmatic children between June 2005 and May 2006 (group 2) were studied retrospectively.

RESULTSSixty-seven patients (33.5%) in group 1 and 128 patients (64.0%) in group 2 had concomitant allergic rhinitis (P < 0.01). The incidence of exercise-induced asthma, drug allergy and irritating smell allergy was significantly higher in group 2 than in group 1 (P < 0.05). Twenty-nine patients (14.5%) in group 1 and 112 patients (56.0%) in group 2 re-visited to the clinic (P < 0.01). The patients in group 1 received nonspecific immune and desensitizing therapy but those in group 2 received inhaled glucocorticoid therapy during the remission stage. After 3 months treatment, asthma was in under control in 11 patients (37.9%, 11/29) in group 1 and in 93 patients in group 2 (83.0%, 93/112) (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe incidence of concomitant anaphylaxis increased in asthmatic children over a 20-year period. The compliance of re-examination has increased in asthmatic children in recent years and this may be associated with a better efficacy of inhaled glucocorticosteroid therapy.