Lower prevalence and greater severity of asthma in hot and dry climate
Journal Title: Jornal de Pediatria - Year 2017, Vol 93, Issue 2
Abstract
Objective To estimate asthma prevalence, severity, and associated factors in adolescents who live in a low relative humidity environment. Methods In this cross-sectional study, adolescents aged 13–14 years from the city of Petrolina located in the Brazilian semiarid region answered the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire. The possible explanatory variables of the study were gender, family income, mother's education, smokers in the household, parental history of asthma, personal history of allergic rhinitis or atopic dermatitis, and physical activity level. Poisson regression analysis was used to assess the association between asthma and the explanatory variables. Results A total of 1591 adolescents participated in the study, of whom 49.7% were male. The prevalence of active asthma, severe asthma, and physician-diagnosed asthma were 14.0%, 10.4%, and 17.8%, respectively. Adolescents with asthma missed more school days than their peers (33 vs. 22 days/year; p<0.03). Associated factors that remained significant after adjustment were history of asthma in parents (PR=2.65, p<0.001) and personal diagnosis of allergic rhinitis (PR=1.96, p<0.001) and/or atopic dermatitis (PR=2.18, p<0.001). Conclusion Asthma prevalence in this low-humidity environment was lower, but more severe than those reported in other Brazilian cities. The dry climate might hamper disease control and this may have contributed to the higher school absenteeism observed. The association of asthma with allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis as well as a history of asthma in parents suggests that atopy is an important risk factor for asthma in this population.
Authors and Affiliations
Marco Aurélio de Valois Correia Junior
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP508695
- DOI 10.1016/j.jped.2016.05.006
- Views 31
- Downloads 0
Risk factors associated with growth failure in the follow-up of very low birth weight newborns
Objective To determine risk factors during neonatal hospital stay and follow-up associated with failure to thrive in the first year of life of very low birth weight newborns. Methods Study of preterm very low birth weig...
Obesogenic environment – intervention opportunities
Objectives To evaluate environmental obesogenic-related factors, such as physical activity in neighborhoods and schools, nutritional behavior, and intervention programs. Sources Critical analysis of literature with pers...
Critical assessment of the pH of children's soap
Objective To evaluate the pH value of children's antibacterial soaps and syndets used in children's baths and verify whether there is information regarding pH on the product label. Methods Quantitative, cross-sectional,...
Accuracy of low dose CT in the diagnosis of appendicitis in childhood and comparison with USG and standard dose CT
Objectives Computed tomography should be performed after careful consideration due to radiation hazard, which is why interest in low dose CT has increased recently in acute appendicitis. Previous studies have been perfor...
Impact and seasonality of human rhinovirus infection in hospitalized patients for two consecutive years
Objectives To report epidemiological features, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of human rhinovirus (HRV) infections in comparison with other community acquired respiratory virus (CRV) infections in patients hospit...