[Asthma and the environment in the Lagunera district].
OBJECTIVE
The characteristics and real dimension of the environmental problems are frequently unknown. These results in a poor knowledge about health impact and deficient planning of the measures required for their protection. Asthma is a prior health problem at Comarca Lagunera.


OBJECTIVE
The analysis of environment characteristics that could affect its presentation is the objective of this paper.


METHODS
We took information form several official bureaus and regional records. It identified that the coexistence of some factors, like regional weather characteristics, with extreme temperature and frequent dust storm, growing deforest, dominant flora and acute and chronic contamination by particulates material, mainly at urban areas, could explain the epidemiological profile of the disease in this urban area so an interdisciplinary participation is required for solving this problem.


RESULTS
In the Comarca Lagunera, several factors coexist which precipitate symptoms in asthmatic subjects: climatological features which favor the inflammatory process and increase susceptibility to respiratory tract infections which can set off asthmatic crises.


CONCLUSIONS
The epidemiological behavior os asthma in this regions may be associated with its climatological characteristics.
Martínez Ordaz
V A
VA
Unidad de Investigación en Epidemiología Clínica, Hospital de Especialidades núm. 71, Centro Médico Nacional Torreón, Coahuila. invest@halcon.laguna.ual.mx
Rincón Castañeda
C B
CB
Velasco Rodríguez
V M
VM
Lazo Sáenz
J G
JG
López Campos
C
C
Cano Ríos
P
P
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D004391:Dust / Q000009:adverse effects; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D011058:Pollen / Q000009:adverse effects; D012621:Seasons; D014504:Urban Health; D014887:Weather
D000393:Air Pollutants; D004391:Dust