Prevalence and severity of asthma, rhinitis, and atopic eczema in 13- to 14-year-old schoolchildren from southern Brazil.
The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence and severity of asthma, rhinitis, and atopic eczema in schoolchildren from southern Brazil. A cross-sectional study was carried out with the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood phase III written questionnaire. The questionnaire was self-applied by 2,948 randomly selected schoolchildren aged 13 to 14 years. The lifetime prevalence rates of symptoms were as follows: wheezing, 40.8%; rhinitis, 40.7%; eczema, 13.6%; self-reported asthma, 14.6%; rhinitis, 31.4%; eczema, 13.4%. Rhinitis was reported by 55% of adolescents with current asthma (60% females vs 46.9% males). Girls 13 to 14 years of age had higher prevalence rates of asthma, rhinitis, and eczema than boys had. Atopic eczema was reported by 42.7% of girls and 31.4% of boys with asthma. The prevalence rates were statistically significant for symptoms of asthma, rhinitis, and atopic eczema in females. However, there were no statistically significant differences between the sexes in regard to reported asthma and bronchospasm induced by exercise.
Division of Pediatric Allergy-Immunology, São Vicente de Paulo University Hospital - Faculty of Medicine, University of Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil. portoneto@brturbo.com.br.
Arnaldo C Porto
AC
Neto
Rafael D'Agostini
RD
Annes
Nathalia Mm
NM
Wolff
Andréia P
AP
Klein
Francisco C
FC
Dos Santos
Juliana L
JL
Dullius
Marina
M
Gressler
Letícia S
LS
Muller
Cristine F
CF
Angonese
Sérgio
S
Menna-Barreto