title: Prevalence of wheeze among preschool children in Basra governonate, southern Iraq.
abstract: A community-based survey was carried out in Basra governorate, Iraq, to estimate the prevalence of wheeze among children under 5 years old and to identify possible risk factors. It was found that 15.8% of the 424 preschool children enrolled in the study had a history of wheeze. More wheezy children lived in the city (16.3%) than in the rural area (15.0%). Family history of asthma in first-degree relatives was significantly associated with wheeze (44.8% of children with wheeze versus 15.1% without wheeze). Other household factors--parents' low educational level, formula or supplemental feeding as a baby, overcrowding, smoking at home, pet ownership and using kerosene--were associated with wheeze, but the results were not statistically significant. The role of environmental factors and feeding patterns needs to be further evaluated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Basra, Basra, Iraq.
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Salem
authors.forename: I O
authors.initials: IO
authors.lastname: Al-Sadoon
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Hassan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003441:Crowding; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006361:Heating / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007225:Infant Food / Q000009:adverse effects; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007493:Iraq / Q000453:epidemiology; D007648:Kerosene / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012008:Recurrence; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012135:Respiratory Sounds; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D007648:Kerosene