천식아동의 행동장애와 임상요인과의 연관성

The Relationship between Clinical Factors and Behavioral Characteristics in Children with Asthma

Objects : The results of an investigation into the relationship between clinical, physiological, and behavioral factors in 28 children with asthma are reported. Methods ： The children were classified into groups according to the duration of asthma, the severity of asthma and the family history of allergy. Estimation of blood eosinophil count, level of serum Ig E, and the Methacholine challenge test were also carried out. Both parents and school teachers completed Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). T.O.VA.，one of the standardized continuous performance tests, and K-WISC were assessed to evaluate their attentional problem, and to rule out cognitive dysfunction. Results ： Though the total scores o f CBCL-parent and CBCL-teacher were higher than the age- and sex- matched normal controls, they were not much higher than the scores for psychiatric clinic groups. The results of CBCL rating by both parents and teachers were highly correlated each other, showing reliability of their ratings. Longer the duration of asthma, higher the blood eosinophil count. Less the amount of methacholine in MCT, higher the CBCL scores by both parents and teachers. Conclusion : The results suggest that children with longer duration of asthma and with more hypersensitive airway reaction may have more behavioral problems