[Lower airways and pollution].
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the prevalence of lower respiratory airway diseases in children exposed to different sources of environmental pollutants.


METHODS
An epidemiological survey (using a questionnaire) was conducted in São Paulo State with three groups of children (1000 in each group): in the city of São Paulo, urban pollution; in Piracicaba, sugar cane burning area; and in Tupã and Batatais, pollution-free rural zone.


RESULTS
As for asthma/bronchitis and/or pneumonia, children from Piracicaba and São Paulo presented rates of 14 and 11% respectively, compared with 10% in Tupã and Batatais. Absenteeism from school was 17% in Piracicaba, 11% in São Paulo and 9% in Tupã and Batatais. Hospitalizations due to respiratory complications (asthma/ bronchitis or pneumonia) was 4% in São Paulo, 3% in Piracicaba and 2% in Tupã and Batatais. All the above results had statistical significance (p < 5).


CONCLUSIONS
High prevalence of lower respiratory airways infections and their complications in children exposed to different sources of environmental air-pollutants demonstrate the need for a more efficacious control environment pollution.
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Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Laboratório de Investigações Médicas.