title: Prevalence of bronchial asthma among schoolchildren in a Swedish district.
abstract: The prevalence of asthma among 10,527 children aged 7-16 years was investigated in 1985. Children were assigned to the asthma group when replies to a questionnaire stated that at least two of four stipulated symptoms had been experienced in the preceding year. A validation study, comprising exploration of medical history, pulmonary auscultation and physiological tests (spirometry and methacholine inhalation challenge) was performed in 73 children. The overall prevalence of asthma was 4%. The most common symptom-inducing factors were physical exertion, upper respiratory tract infection, contact with animals and tobacco smoke. The methacholine test had limited value as a diagnostic aid, being positive in only 25% of children with a clear history of asthma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics and Clinical Physiology, Sundsvall Hospital, Sweden.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bråbäck
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kälvesten
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sundström
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D001250:Asthma, Exercise-Induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D013548:Sweden