title: Association of asthma with extra-respiratory symptoms in schoolchildren: two cross-sectional studies 6 years apart.
abstract: Epidemiological information on symptoms affecting extra-respiratory organs and apparatuses in asthmatic children is scarce. The aim of this study therefore was to evaluate, at a population level, if and what extra-respiratory symptoms are associated with asthma. Two questionnaire-based, cross-sectional surveys were carried out on 1,262 students (651 males; mean age 9.57 years, age-range 6-14 years) in 1992 and on 1,210 students (639 males; mean age 9.02 years, age-range 6-14 years) in 1998, from two elementary and two junior high schools in Rome, Italy. Questionnaires included queries about asthma and its risk factors and extra-respiratory symptoms (headache, restlessness, sleep disturbances, urticaria, itching, and abdominal pain). Of responders, 11.9% (279/2,342) had a history of asthma. After adjustment for gender, family history of atopic disease, low birth weight, early respiratory problems, and damp house, asthma was significantly associated with recurrent abdominal pain (odds ratio [OR] 1.90; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.04, 3.16), itching (OR 3.15; 95% CI: 1.75, 5.68), and urticaria (OR 2.52; 95% CI: 1.02, 6.20). Asthma was reported by 10.2% (201/1,962) of children unaffected by this triad, by 20.1% (56/279; OR 2.20) with one of the symptoms, and by 31.6% (12/38; OR 4.04) with two or more symptoms. An emerging characteristic of pediatric asthma in our setting appears to be its association with certain extra-respiratory symptoms (abdominal pain, itching, and urticaria). A global, internistic approach to asthmatic children is increasingly required both in the clinical setting and in future epidemiological studies.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Second School of Medicine, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy. ronchetti@uniroma1.it
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Ronchetti
authors: Maria Pia
authors: MP
authors: Villa
authors: Paolo Maria
authors: PM
authors: Matricardi
authors: Stefania
authors: S
authors: La Grutta
authors: Mario
authors: M
authors: Barreto
authors: Jacopo
authors: J
authors: Pagani
authors: Susy
authors: S
authors: Mortella
authors: Carlo
authors: C
authors: Falasca
authors: Giancarlo
authors: G
authors: Ciofetta
authors: Barbara
authors: B
authors: Poggi
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications*; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011537:Pruritus / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014581:Urticaria / Q000453:epidemiology*