ASSOCIATION BETWEEN COMORBID ALLERGIC DISEASES AND ASTHMA CONTROL AMONG CHILDREN AGED 1–15 YEARS: A HOSPITAL-BASED CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY
Authors: Dr Sanjay KM*, Dr Manjusha C, Dr Veena RS
Publication Date: 2026/07/16
DOI: 10.59551/DOI: 10.59551/IJHMP/25832069/2026.7.2.103
Abstract
<p>Background: Asthma is one of the most common chronic respiratory diseases among children and is frequently associated with allergic comorbidities such as allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, allergic conjunctivitis, and food allergy. These conditions may aggravate airway inflammation and adversely affect asthma control, leading to increased morbidity and healthcare utilization.</p>
<p>Aim: To evaluate the impact of comorbid allergic diseases on asthma control among pediatric patients aged 1–15 years attending a tertiary care hospital.</p>
<p>Materials and Methods: A hospital-based analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among 106 children aged 1–15 years with physician-diagnosed bronchial asthma. Participants were recruited using consecutive sampling after obtaining informed consent. Demographic and clinical data were collected using a structured case record form. Allergic comorbidities were identified through detailed clinical evaluation and medical records. Asthma control was assessed using age-appropriate Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA)-recommended tools, including the Childhood Asthma Control Test (C-ACT) and Asthma Control Test (ACT). Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 26.0. Associations between allergic comorbidities and asthma control were evaluated using the Chi-square test, with a p-value <0.05 considered statistically significant.</p>
<p>Results: Among the 106 children studied, 58.5% were males and the majority (43.4%) were aged 6–10 years. Allergic rhinitis was the most common allergic comorbidity (52.8%), followed by atopic dermatitis (22.6%), allergic conjunctivitis (17.9%), and food allergy (12.3%). Asthma was well controlled in 45.3% of participants, partly controlled in 32.1%, and poorly controlled in 22.6%. Allergic rhinitis showed a significant association with poor asthma control (p=0.009). Children with multiple allergic comorbidities had a significantly greater proportion of poorly controlled asthma than those without multiple comorbidities (41.4% vs. 15.6%; p=0.003).</p>
<p>Conclusion: Allergic comorbidities, particularly allergic rhinitis and the coexistence of multiple allergic diseases, were significantly associated with suboptimal asthma control in children. Early recognition and comprehensive management of these comorbid conditions, alongside standard asthma therapy, may improve symptom control, reduce exacerbations, and enhance overall quality of life. Routine screening for allergic diseases should be incorporated into the clinical evaluation of pediatric patients with bronchial asthma.</p>
<p>KEYWORDS: Bronchial Asthma, Pediatric Asthma, Allergic Rhinitis, Atopic Dermatitis, Allergic Conjunctivitis, Food Allergy, Asthma Control, Childhood Asthma Control Test, Comorbid Allergic Diseases, Cross-sectional Study.</p>
References
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