Serum magnesium levels in asthmatic children during and between exacerbations.

OBJECTIVE To determine, if possible, whether magnesium deficiency exists in children with asthma during acute attacks and between exacerbations. SETTING Emergency Department Clinic and Outpatient Pediatric Clinic of Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid. METHODS A total of 174 known asthmatic children who presented to the emergency department in acute attack (group 1) and 94 asthmatic children who presented to outpatient clinics for follow-up of asthma (group 2) had their serum magnesium levels assayed and compared with 232 patients without asthma (controls; group 3). Exclusion criteria were history of renal disease, cardiac disease, malabsorption, diuretic use, alcoholism, and pregnancy. RESULTS There were no differences between study groups, although male patients had a slightly lower level of magnesium than female patients. CONCLUSION After removing the confounder of sex, serum magnesium levels in asthmatic children during acute attacks and between exacerbations are not significantly different from those of controls.