Rhinitis symptoms and habitual snoring in Ecuadorian children.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of habitual snoring (HS) and its association with symptoms of rhinitis in a Latin American country and, secondarily, to assess how commonly physicians address rhinitis in the community.


METHODS
Six- to twelve-year-old school-aged children.


METHODS
We designed a cross-sectional, community-based study of the pediatric population, centered in schools of Guayaquil, Ecuador. The study was evaluated and approved by the ethical committee of the Hospital Luis Vernaza as a local institution.


RESULTS
A 15.1% prevalence of HS was reported among 806 responders out of 1193 surveys. The frequency of HS was associated with the number of rhinitis symptoms and a previous diagnosis of rhinitis, with those reporting 2 rhinitic symptoms being more likely to report HS (p=0.01). Only a small minority of caregivers reported being aware of either HS or rhinitis as health problems.


CONCLUSIONS
HS is a highly prevalent symptom among Ecuadorian children, and the prevalence is further increased if the diagnosis of rhinitis or even >1 rhinitis symptom is concomitantly present. Since few caregivers of HS children are informed about the causes and consequences of this condition, increased health education about this condition is needed.
Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
Alfonso
A
Tafur
Iván
I
Chérrez-Ojeda
Cecilia
C
Patiño
David
D
Gozal
Cynthia
C
Rand
Mantilla
M
Ronnie
Guerrero
G
Thomas
Soria
S
Jaime
Chica
C
Jacquelin
D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004484:Ecuador; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D012913:Snoring / Q000453:epidemiology*