To determine the association between serum magnesium levels and acute exacerbation of asthma in children aged between 6-12yrs - hospital based cross sectional study,

This hospital-based cross-sectional study aims to determine the association between serum magnesium levels and acute exacerbation of bronchial asthma in children aged 6–12 years. Asthma is one of the most common chronic respiratory diseases in children and contributes significantly to morbidity, healthcare utilization, and reduced quality of life. Magnesium plays an important physiological role in asthma by inhibiting smooth muscle contraction, reducing bronchospasm, and preventing mast cell degranulation; hence, low serum magnesium levels may worsen asthma severity.

The study will be conducted over a one and half year period in a tertiary care paediatric hospital. A total of 81 children presenting with acute asthma exacerbation will be enrolled. Children with conditions that can alter magnesium levels, such as renal disease, endocrine disorders, malnutrition, chronic proton pump inhibitor use, or magnesium supplementation, will be excluded. Serum magnesium levels will be measured at admission, and asthma severity will be assessed using the PRAM (Paediatric Respiratory Assessment Measure) score.

The primary outcome is to assess the association between serum magnesium levels and acute asthma exacerbation severity. Secondary outcomes include correlation of magnesium levels with PRAM scores, duration of hospital stay, and different categories of asthma exacerbation (moderate, severe, and life-threatening). Statistical analysis will be performed using SPSS, with significance set at p < 0.05.

The study is expected to demonstrate a possible correlation between hypomagnesemia and severity of acute asthma exacerbations, which may help identify magnesium as a useful marker in assessing disease severity and guiding management in paediatric asthma.