Prevalence of asthma and other allergic diseases in school children in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua

Objective.To assess the prevalence and severity of asthma and allergic dise ases in schoolchildren residing in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua. Material and M ethods. A cross-sectional study was conducted from April 1998 to May 1999, among 6 174 children from 53 schools in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua. The metho d used was the one recommended by the International Study of Asthma and All ergies in Childhood (ISAAC) to determine the prevalence and severity of ast hma, rhinitis, and eczema. Parents were asked to answer a standardized ques tionnaire on current and cumulative prevalence of asthma, rhinitis, and ecz ema. A sample stratified by level of pollution was selected. Results. The c umulative prevalence of medically diagnosed asthma and wheezing was 6.8% (9 5% Cl 6.2, 7.4) and 20% (95% Cl 19.7, 21.8), respectively. The prevalence o f wheezing in the last 12 months was higher in the group aged 6-8 years tha n in those aged 11-14 years (9.7% vs. 5.8 %, p <0.01).The prevalence of med ically diagnosed rhinitis was 5.0 % (95% Cl 4.5,5.6). The prevalence of med ically diagnosed eczema was 4.9% (4.3, 5.4). The prevalence of eczema sympt oms in the last 12 months was 12.7% in the 6-8 years group and 13.3% in the 11-14 year group, respectively. Severe symptoms of asthma were significant ly higher in the 6-8 years group and during the autumn months. Conclusions. The prevalence of medically diagnosed and symptomatic asthma was relativel y low in comparison with findings from others studies that use similar meth ods, but the prevalence rates of rhinitis and eczema were higher.