The correlation of average monthly ambient sulfur dioxide concentration and the use of inhalation bronchodilators in children.

The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between average monthly concentrations of sulfur dioxide and a rate of prescribed inhalation bronchodilator therapy in children aged under 6 years during 2011 in Zenica city. The average monthly concentration of sulfur dioxide of 231 mu g/m(3) recorded in January, 82 mu g/m(3) in July and 296 mu g/m(3) in December was noted. The monthly rate of prescribed inhalation bronchodilators in examined 100 children was 15.4% in January, 7.8% in July and 18.1% in December (r = 0.666; p<0.05). The increase in the average monthly concentration of sulfur dioxide in ambient air had an effect on the increase in the rate of applied inhalation bronchodilator therapy in children aged under 6 years.