1. Munir Hussain Siddiqui 2. Akhtar Ali Baloch 3. Afzal Qasim 4. Babar Bashir 

5. Jawad us Salam 

1. Asstt. Prof. of Medicine, DIMC, 2.  Assoc. Prof. of Medicine, DIMC, 3. Asstt. Prof. of Cardiology, DIMC, 

4. Asstt. Prof. of Medicine, DIMC, 5. Asstt. Prof. of Neurology, DIMC, DUHS, Karachi

ABSTRACT

Objective: To determine the correlation between the blood eosinophil count and the severity of symptoms in asthmatic patients.

Study Design: Prospective observational study

Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out in Dow General Hospital, Dow University of Heath Sciences from 1^stJanuary 2011 to  31^stDecember 2011

Materials and Methods: Asthmatic patients who were admitted in Dow General Hospital, Dow University of Heath Sciences, and those who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were enrolled in the study. Physical examination was carried out and the severity of the symptoms was gauged by using Peak Expiratory flow meter and absolute eosinophil count. The data thus collected was analyzed using SPSS Version 15.

Results: Among 56 patients who were enrolled in the study 29(51.8%) were male and 27(48.2%) were female. Ages were between 13 and 70 years. The absolute eosinophil count ranged between 70/mm³ and 1400/mm³. Based on the definition of asthma severity, 20 patients (35.7%) had mild asthma, 17(30.4%) had moderate and 19(33.9%) patients had severe asthma.  

Conclusion: Statistical analysis showed that no relationship exist between blood eosinophil count and the severity of asthma. (p < 0.003).  

Key Words: Asthma, Bronchial asthma,Absolute eosinophil count