Eczema and family history linked to severe hospitalization for children with asthma.

Eczema and family history linked to severe hospitalization for children with asthma. 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.