my $numParams = 1;
my $SQL = 'SELECT syslog_timestamp, syslog_host, syslog_text
             FROM syslog
            WHERE syslog_text like ?';

if ($begMonth)
{
    $begDate = "$begYear\-$begMonth\-$begDay 00:00:00";
    $endDate = "$endYear\-$endMonth\-$endDay 23:59:59";
    $SQL .= ' AND syslog_timestamp >= ?';
    $SQL .= ' AND syslog_timestamp <= ?';
    $numParams += 2;
}

my $sth = $dbh->prepare($SQL);

if ($numParams == 1)
{
    my $DBquery= $sth->execute($SearchPhrase);
}
elsif ($numParams == 3)
{
    my $DBquery= $sth->execute($SearchPhrase, $begDate, $endDate);
}