Prevalence of respiratory symptoms, features of asthma, and characteristics associated with respiratory disease, in 6-11 year olds in Manchester.
OBJECTIVE
This paper describes the prevalence of respiratory symptoms, features of asthma, and characteristics associated with respiratory disease in 6-11 year old children in an historical cohort study.


METHODS
The study included 5086 children, all born in the same maternity unit in the north west of England over a four-year period. The prevalence of respiratory symptoms, features of asthma, and characteristics associated with respiratory disease were determined by the use of parent-completed questionnaires. Skin prick tests were used to ascertain atopic status.


RESULTS
The response was 47.5%. The prevalence of wheeze, asthma medication use and atopic sensitisation were 20.3%, 16.2% and 37.1% respectively. Wheeze and atopy were significantly more prevalent in boys (22.4% versus 17.9% and 43.0% versus 29.3%, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
This study identified a high prevalence of respiratory disease in this population and provides a baseline for monitoring trends in respiratory disease in 6-11 year old children.
Linehan
Mary F
MF
General Practice Research Unit, North West Lung Research Centre, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester, M23 9LT, UK. linehanmary@yahoo.co.uk
Frank
Peter I
PI
Niven
Rob
R
Hazell
Michelle L
ML
Morris
Julie A
JA
Francis
Helen
H
Frank
Timothy L
TL
D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003371:Cough / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012135:Respiratory Sounds; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012882:Skin Tests