title: Prevalence and severity of asthma, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and atopic eczema in "Grand Tunis" schoolchildren: ISAAC.
abstract: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and severity of asthma, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and atopic eczema in 13-14 year old children living in "Grand Tunis". Using the international study of asthma and allergies in childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire, 3350 schoolchildren aged 13-14 years, from the Grand Tunis (Ariana, Ben Arous, Manouba, Tunis) were studied. Our results showed that in the past year 13.2% of children had wheezed, 1.4% had more than 12 attacks and 4.3% had experienced a speech limiting attack. 29.7% had symptoms of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and 8.3% atopic eczema. The classic preponderance of asthma in boys has not been retrieved in our study. The highest level of wheeze was found in an agricultural area. According the published data, asthma prevalence in Tunisian schoolchildren is intermediate and allergic diseases are perhaps a common childhood diseases in Tunisia.
authors.affiliation: Hôpital d'Enfants, Tunis.
authors.forename: Faouzia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Khaldi
authors.forename: Radhouane
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fakhfakh
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mattoussi
authors.forename: Brahim
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ben Ali
authors.forename: Samia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zouari
authors.forename: Monia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khémiri
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000383:Agriculture; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D003231:Conjunctivitis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D014416:Tunisia / Q000453:epidemiology