Increased hospitalizations for asthma among children in the Washington, D.C. area during 1961-1981.

Hospital admissions for childhood asthma to three university affiliated hospitals in the Washington D.C. area (Children's Hospital National Medical Center, CHNMC, Prince George's General Hospital, PGGH, and Holy Cross Hospital, HCH) for the period 1961-1981 increased at least three to 18 fold. The over-all population of children less than or equal to 14 years of age increased, at most, only 1.5 fold by 1970, and thereafter decreased gradually until the end of the study. This increase in pediatric asthma hospitalizations has occurred despite significant improvements in the ambulatory management of the asthmatic child. In particular, the amount of specific anti-asthmatic medication prescribed for these patients has grown markedly. The increased hospitalization is most likely due to an increase in the occurrence of severe asthma in children, particularly black children.