Abstract

STEPHAN, Ana Maria Siga; COSTA, Juvenal Soares Dias da; STEPHAN, Laura Siga  and  SECCO, Alan Felipe Bello. Prevalence of asthma symptoms in infants, preschool and scholars in an area covered by the Family Health Program in Pelotas, State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Epidemiol. Serv. Saúde [online]. 2010, vol.19, n.2, pp.125-132. ISSN 1679-4974.  http://dx.doi.org/10.5123/S1679-49742010000200005.

This cross-sectional study aims to identify the prevalence of asthma symptoms in infants, preschool and school children, between one and nine years old, in an area covered by the Bom Jesus Family Health Unit (FHU) in Pelotas, State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, during 2007 based on a questionnaire on asthma symptoms (International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood - Isaac). Children presenting four or more wheezing episodes during the previous year, or one to three episodes associated to disturbed sleep due to wheezing or night coughing and wheezing following physical exercises, were considered asthmatic. In the selected age group 1,140 children were found. The prevalence of asthma was 22.6%. Infants presented higher prevalence of asthma. There was no association between asthma and sex or skin color. The prevalence of active asthma was considered high (20%), but is similar to other national studies.

Keywords : asthma; prevalence; child health; cross-sectional studies; primary health care.

        · abstract in Portuguese     · text in Portuguese     · Portuguese ( pdf )