PREVALENCE OF ASTHMA IN CHILDREN

The goal of phase I in the ISAAC (International Study of Asthma and Al lergies in Childhood) is to evaluate the prevalence of asthma and alle rgies in children and adolescents. Parents were asked to fill out a qu estionnaire to assess prevalence in children. The survey was conducted in 55 primary schools in Bordeaux and 57 primary schools in Strasbour g. Response rate was 80.3% and 84.3% respectively. This study showed t hat the cumulative prevalence of asthma and wheezing was significantly higher in Bordeaux. Inversely, there was no significant difference in frequency or severity of asthma. Multiple regression analysis using c enter and sex as explaining variables confirmed the center effect with a higher prevalence of asthma and wheezing in Bordeaux. Analysis by s ex showed male predominance in both centers, in agreement with previou s data in the literature. Phase II in the ISAAC will be devoted to an analysis of risk factors implicated in asthma and allergies and to for mulate hypothesis concerning the caused involved in the differences in prevalence.