[Objectives] This investigation was performed to allow planning of future treatment of childhood asthma by clarifying the current situation in Tochigi Prefecture.
[Methods] Data were collected at about the same time of year in 2002 and 2006. A self-recording questionnaire survey was given to childhood asthma patients and their parents to determine their QOL and the background of the patients.
[Results] Responses were obtained from 1,487 and 1,058 subjects in 2002 and 2006, respectively. The incidence of asthma attack and wheezing was significantly lower in 2006 than in 2002 (p<0.05), and the QOL of the patients and their parents was higher in 2006 than in 2002. The use of inhalated corticosteroids (ICS) and leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRA) increased from 28.0% to 44.7% and from 53.3% to 70.3%, respectively, from 2002 to 2006.
[Conclusion] Long-term management of childhood asthma has been performed using ICS and LTRA, and our results suggest that these medicines have been effective in reducing asthma symptoms and improving QOL. In the future, we propose that further treatment using these medicines is desirable.