Illness experience and related knowledge amongst children with asthma.

Forty-nine children with asthma (aged 7-16 years) completed a questionnaire concerned with (1) general knowledge about the body and how it works, and (2) specific knowledge about the cause and prognosis of asthma, knowledge of allergens and self-care behaviours. Compared with a matched group of healthy children, they were less well-informed about general knowledge of the body. Knowledge of asthma was also poor. Few children made any specific attempts to avoid situations known to precipitate attacks. There was no significant increase with age in knowledge of allergens or awareness of how to control attacks. The results indicate a need to make asthmatic children more aware of their illness, particularly with regard to self-care.