title: Mould and grass pollen allergy as risk factors for childhood asthma in Zaragoza, Spain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Examine the prevalence of asthma and associated predictive factors in a group of 468 students.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive, cross-sectional observational study in a randomly selected population of 468 children aged 10-12, in the city of Zaragoza. We used the ISAAC questionnaire on asthma completed by children under supervision of the investigators. We assessed the genetic risk (family history of asthma) and environmental risks. The risk for atopy was assessed by the presence of positive skin prick tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  25.3% of the children had symptoms consistent with asthma in the city of Zaragoza. Among them 33.1% reported a history of asthma in close relatives (OR=1.78, p<0.001). The history of hospitalisations for lower respiratory tract illness was strongly associated with the presence of asthma (OR=6.72, p<0.0001). Positive skin tests to Alternaria (OR=2.00, p<0.0001) and grass pollen (OR=1.76, p<0.001) were predictors of asthma. 63.6% of asthmatic children had presented clinical rhinitis in the previous 12 months, compared with 32% of non-asthmatics, and this difference was statistically significant (OR=3.89, p<0.0001). 47% of asthmatics presented with or previously had eczema, whereas only 26.9% of non-asthmatics presented with or previously had these types of lesions (p<0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The following are predictors of asthma: History of hospital admissions for lower respiratory tract illness, presence of rhinitis and/or eczema, positive prick test for certain aeroallergens, especially Alternaria and grass pollen, and family history of asthma.
authors.affiliation: Allergy Department, University Hospital Lozano Blesa of Zaragoza, Avda. San Juan Bosco, 15, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; Aragon Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón), Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Aragón (CIBA), Avda. San Juan Bosco, 13, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain. Electronic address: nseguraa@gmail.com.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Segura
authors.affiliation: Allergy Department, University Hospital Lozano Blesa of Zaragoza, Avda. San Juan Bosco, 15, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; Aragon Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón), Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Aragón (CIBA), Avda. San Juan Bosco, 13, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fraj
authors.affiliation: Allergy Department, University Hospital Lozano Blesa of Zaragoza, Avda. San Juan Bosco, 15, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; Aragon Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón), Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Aragón (CIBA), Avda. San Juan Bosco, 13, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Cubero
authors.affiliation: Allergy Department, University Hospital Lozano Blesa of Zaragoza, Avda. San Juan Bosco, 15, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; Aragon Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón), Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Aragón (CIBA), Avda. San Juan Bosco, 13, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain.
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Sobrevía
authors.affiliation: Allergy Department, University Hospital Lozano Blesa of Zaragoza, Avda. San Juan Bosco, 15, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; Aragon Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón), Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Aragón (CIBA), Avda. San Juan Bosco, 13, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lezaun
authors.affiliation: Allergy Department, University Hospital Lozano Blesa of Zaragoza, Avda. San Juan Bosco, 15, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; Aragon Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón), Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Aragón (CIBA), Avda. San Juan Bosco, 13, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ferrer
authors.affiliation: Pneumology Department, University Hospital Lozano Blesa of Zaragoza, Avda. San Juan Bosco, 15, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; Aragon Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón), Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Aragón (CIBA), Avda. San Juan Bosco, 13, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sebastián
authors.affiliation: Allergy Department, University Hospital Lozano Blesa of Zaragoza, Avda. San Juan Bosco, 15, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; Aragon Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón), Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Aragón (CIBA), Avda. San Juan Bosco, 13, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Colás
mesh_terms: D000528:Alternaria / Q000276:immunology*; D000946:Antigens, Fungal / Q000276:immunology; D052179:Antigens, Plant / Q000276:immunology; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D059647:Gene-Environment Interaction; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006109:Poaceae / Q000276:immunology; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000946:Antigens, Fungal; D052179:Antigens, Plant
keywords: Alternaria; Asthma epidemiology; Asthma predictors; Childhood; ISAAC questionnaire