Urban kids with asthma need check-ups

Baltimore -- Four or more check-ups a year after an asthma diagnosis in inner-city children may help guard against dangerous flare-ups of wheezing, a U.S. study found.

Researchers at The Johns Hopkins Children’s Center in Baltimore say current asthma guidelines call for follow-up of one to six months after diagnosis, but six months may be too long for many patients.

Dr. Hemant Sharma, a pediatric allergist at Johns Hopkins and colleagues, studied 150 Baltimore asthmatic children ages 2 to 6 and found nearly half with the mildest asthma at their first visit had worsening symptoms as early as three months later.

"We know asthma is an unstable disease, but we underestimated just how unpredictably it could behave over time, especially in inner-city kids," Sharma said in a statement. "Doctors and parents need to be more vigilant and schedule at least three-month check-ups even if the child appears to be doing fine."

The study was published in the journal Pediatrics.

© 2007 United Press International.