Prevalence of rhinitis-related symptoms in Latin American children - results of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) phase three.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of rhinitis-related symptoms among children living in different parts of Latin America (LA) considering all centers involved in ISAAC Phase Three (Ph3). 93,851 children (6-7 yr-old) from 35 centers in 14 LA countries and 165,917 adolescents (13-14 yr-old) from 56 centers in 17 LA countries were enrolled. The mean prevalence rate of current rhinoconjunctivitis was 12.7% and ranged from 5.5% in Rosario City (Argentina) to 21.2% in Caracas (Venezuela) for the schoolchildren. The mean prevalence rate of current rhinoconjunctivitis was 18.5% and ranged from 7.1% in Cuernavaca (México) to 45.1% in Asunción (Paraguay) for the adolescents. These indexes were among the higher observed during ISAAC Ph3. In general the prevalence of rhinitis-related symptoms was higher among the Spanish speaking centers. Environmental risk factors must be evaluated in order to explain the differences observed even in centers from the same country.
Division of Allergy, Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. dirceusole.dped@epm.br
Dirceu
D
Solé
Javier
J
Mallol
Inês C
IC
Camelo-Nunes
Gustavo F
GF
Wandalsen
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003231:Conjunctivitis; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007843:Latin America; D008297:Male; D044382:Population Groups; D015995:Prevalence; D012220:Rhinitis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires