title: Asthma and allergic rhinitis co-morbidity: a cross-sectional questionnaire study on adolescents aged 13-14 years.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is scarce epidemiological population-based data on the prevalence of asthma and allergic rhinitis (AR) co-morbidity in adolescents. The aim was to verify asthma and AR prevalence rates in order to emphasise asthma/AR co-morbidity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire in adolescents aged 13-14 years, chosen randomly from public schools in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 3262 students were identified, 3083 (47.3% males) of whom completed the questionnaire (response rate 94.7%). The prevalence of symptoms related to asthma and AR co-morbidity was 8.4% (95% CI, 8.09-10.25). Among asthmatic adolescents, symptoms of AR were reported in 46.5% (95% CI, 42.60-52.08%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a high prevalence of adolescent asthma and AR co-morbidity in this area of Brazil. This co-morbidity is an important health issue that requires strategic application of primary health care facilities to achieve adequate control of both asthma and allergic rhinitis.
authors.affiliation: José do Rosário Vellano University, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cláudia Ribeiro
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: de Andrade
authors.forename: Cássio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: da Cunha Ibiapina
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gonçalves Alvim
authors.forename: Maria Jussara
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Fernandes Fontes
authors.forename: Laura Maria
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: de Lima Belizário Facury Lasmar
authors.forename: Paulo Augusto
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Moreira Camargos
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001938:Brazil; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000209:etiology; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires