[01] Al Behandy N. S., School and Educational Institutions Health Unit, Health Affars Department, Primary Health Care Services Sector, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai, UAE. [02] Hussein H., School and Educational Institutions Health Unit, Health Affars Department, Primary Health Care Services Sector, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai, UAE. [03] Al Faisal W., School and Educational Institutions Health Unit, Health Affars Department, Primary Health Care Services Sector, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai, UAE. [04] El Sawaf E., Staff Development, Health Centers Department, Primary Health Care Services Sector, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai, UAE. [05] Wasfy A., Statistics and Research Department, Ministry of Health, Dubai, UAE. [06] Alshareef N., School and Educational Institutions Health Unit, Health Affars Department, Primary Health Care Services Sector, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai, UAE. [07] Altheeb A. A. S., School and Educational Institutions Health Unit, Health Affars Department, Primary Health Care Services Sector, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai, UAE.

Background: Epidemiologic data estimate that nearly 300 million people worldwide suffer from asthma with expectation that this number will grow by more than 100 million by 2025. Annually 250,000 deaths are attributed to this disease. with approximately 500,000 hospitalizations per year and 13 million missed school days. Asthma is the third-ranking cause of hospitalization among children under 15 In the UAE. Objectives: To study the clinical and epidemiological profile, and socio-demographic risk factors of the childhood asthma in Dubai. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among students in preparatory and secondary schools “Governmental and Private” in Dubai, U.A.E. A sample of 1639 students was selected randomly by multistage stratified random sampling technique. Results: 16.7% have had an asthma attack at some point of time. About 38.5% had asthma at age of less than 3 years. most of the studied students had no wheezing or whistling in the chest at any time in the past (83.5 while 72.9% had wheezes within the last 12 months. As regards the frequency of asthma symptoms per week it can be noted that 8.5% had the symptoms over the day. Regarding sleeping, it was disturbed less than once weekly in 35.2%. Speech limitation due to wheezing was reported by 42.2%, and 66.8% experienced wheezes during and after exercise. As regards using inhalers, the frequency of use ranged from less than or twice weekly in 57.8%. Conclusion: Early onset of asthmatic attacks was clearly eminent among the study sample. Although Boys had higher statistically significant propensity to acquire bronchial asthma, gender revealed no difference concerning severity. Emirian students and those in governmental schools were more affected with bronchial asthma. Although apparently higher among low educated mothers, illiterate fathers had statistically significant higher percentage of asthmatic children. Recommendations: A national asthma surveillance system should be developed in order to early detect and manage bronchial asthma among school children.

Childhood Asthma, Profile, Dubai

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