title: Estimating pediatric asthma prevalence in rural senegal: A cross-sectional survey.
abstract: In Senegal, the prevalence of childhood asthma and utilization of appropriate asthma therapies is unknown.
  
  
  
  We used the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) survey instrument to assess childhood respiratory health in rural Senegal. We interviewed the caregivers of children aged 5 through 8 years of age in the four largest Niakhar villages in August 2012.
  
  
  
  We interviewed 1,103 primary caregivers for 1,513 children, representing 91% of all age-eligible children in the study area. Overall, 206 (14%) children had wheeze at any time in the past, 130 (9%) had wheeze within the past year, and only 41 (3%) reported a clinical diagnosis of asthma. Among children with wheeze within the past year, 81 (62%) had symptoms of severe asthma. Nocturnal cough was reported in 186 (14%) children who denied any history of wheezing illness. Only four (3%) children with wheeze in the past year had ever received bronchodilator therapy. Children with wheeze in the past year were significantly more likely to seek medical care for respiratory symptoms and to be perceived as less healthy than their peers. Children of lower socioeconomic status were significantly more likely to have wheeze.
  
  
  
  Nearly one in ten children in Niakhar, Senegal had symptoms suggestive of asthma; however, few children have a diagnosis of asthma or use appropriate therapies. This study highlights an opportunity to raise community awareness of asthma in rural Senegal and to increase access to appropriate medical therapies. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2017;52:303-309. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
authors.forename: Laura G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Hooper
authors.affiliation: PATH, Dakar, Senegal.
authors.forename: Yakou
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dieye
authors.affiliation: Institute de Recherche pour le Developpement, Dakar, Senegal.
authors.forename: Assane
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ndiaye
authors.affiliation: Institute de Recherche pour le Developpement, Dakar, Senegal.
authors.forename: Aldiouma
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Diallo
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.|VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington.
authors.forename: Vincent S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.|Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.|PATH, Seattle, Washington.
authors.forename: Kathleen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Neuzil
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.|Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.|PATH, Seattle, Washington.
authors.forename: Justin R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Ortiz
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003371:Cough / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D015995:Prevalence; D012135:Respiratory Sounds; D012424:Rural Population; D012675:Senegal / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D001993:Bronchodilator Agents
keywords: Africa; Senegal; asthma; children; epidemiology; international health