title: Prevalence of asthma symptoms among adolescents in Brazil: National Adolescent School-based Health Survey (PeNSE 2012).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to describe the prevalence rates of asthma symptoms in Brazil, its Regions and State capitals, according to data from the National Adolescent School-based Health Survey, 2012. Furthermore, it aims to compare the prevalence of asthma in the capitals evaluated by PeNSE 2012 with previous results of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross sectional study of 9th grade students at public and private schools of all Brazilian states and the Federal District (Brasília). A self reported questionnaire containing items from the ISAAC was applied in order to identify the presence of asthma symptoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of PeNSE indicate a high prevalence of asthma symptoms (23.2%) and of reports of a previous medical diagnosis of asthma (12.4%). Of the five state capitals in which the PeNSE results were compared to the ISAAC, São Paulo, Curitiba and Porto Alegre presented an increase in the prevalence of asthma symptoms. In Salvador, there was a reduction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Brazil is among the countries with the highest prevalence of asthma in the world, and the prevalence is still growing.
authors: Institute of Collective Health, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, BA, Brazil.
authors: Maurício Lima
authors: ML
authors: Barreto
authors: Departament of Science Nutrition, School of Nutrition, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, BA, Brazil.
authors: Rita de Cássia
authors: Rde C
authors: Ribeiro-Silva
authors: Departament of Disease and Non-Communicable Condition Surveillance and Health Promotion, Ministry of Health, Brasília, DF, Brazil.
authors: Deborah Carvalho
authors: DC
authors: Malta
authors: Departament of Disease and Non-Communicable Condition Surveillance and Health Promotion, Ministry of Health, Brasília, DF, Brazil.
authors: Maryane
authors: M
authors: Oliveira-Campos
authors: Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors: Marco Antonio
authors: MA
authors: Andreazzi
authors: Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, BA, Brazil.
authors: Alvaro Augusto
authors: AA
authors: Cruz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012574:Schools