Prevalência e morbidade da asma em escolares de 12 a 14 anos no município de Fortaleza

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases of childhood and an important cause of school absenteeism. Information about asthma in Northeast Brazil is scarce. AIMS: To study asthma prevalence, morbidity and associated factors in 12 to 14 year old schoolchildren in the city of Fortaleza, Brazil, and the attention asthmatic pupil receive from schools. METHODS: A total of 2.339 children (48% male), randomly selected from eight private and 13 public schools filled in a standardised, self-completed, questionnaire composed of 14 questions. A second questionnaire was applied by interview to a representative each of the 21 schools. RESULTS: The observed prevalence rates are: current asthma 10.3% (Cl 95% 9.1 - 11.5); asthma ever 15.8% (Cl 95% 14.3 - 17.3); current wheeze 35.4% (Cl 95% 33.5 - 37.3); wheeze ever 50.8% (Cl 95% 48.8 - 52.8); current rhinoconjunctivitis 43.4% (Cl 95% 41.4 - 45.4); current rhinitis 52.2% (Cl 95% 50.2 - 54.2); rhinitis ever 70.6% (Cl 95% 68.8 - 72.4). A history of rhinitis is strongly associated with asthma and wheeze (odds ratio 2.40 and 2.65, respectively). The education levei of the mother is strongly associated with asthma and weakly associated with wheeze (odds ratio for university levei 2.05 and 1.54, respectively). Among schoolchildren with asthma and a history of wheeze in the past 12 months, 84.8% reported less than three attacks; 83,6 did not have the sleep disturbed or woke up less than three nights per month; 90% missed less than six days of school per year; 57.9% missed physical activities; 78.9% took medication and 7.4% reported hospitalisation due to wheeze. Only 23.8% of the schools have keep records of asthmatic pupils and none of the schools have asthma medication available for the students. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence rates of asthma, wheeze and rhinitis are high among 12 to 14 year old schoolchildren in the city of Fortaleza. A history of rhinitis is strongly associated with asthma and wheeze. The education levei of the mother is strongly associated with asthma. The overall morbidity of asthma is relatively low. Schools are not adequately prepared to deal with the asthmatic pupils.