[Prevalence of asthma and rhinitis symptoms in A Coruña (Spain)].

INTRODUCTION

The prevalence of asthma and rhinitis is high in childhood and has been increasing in the last few years. In both diseases underdiagnosis is frequent.

OBJECTIVE

To asses the prevalence of asthma and rhinitis symptoms in childhood.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

We performed a cross-sectional study using a written questionnaire, following the methodology of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC), on the prevalence of symptoms of asthma and rhinitis in La Coruña.

RESULTS

A total of 3017 boys and girls aged 6-7 years old (response rate 73.9 %) and 2981 boys and girls aged 13-14 years old (response rate 93.6 %) were included. The prevalence of "wheezing at some time" was 25.3 % in adolescents aged 13-14 years old and was 37.2 % in children aged 6-7 years. The prevalence of "asthma at some time" was 18.5 % in adolescents and 13.7 % in children. The prevalence of "rhinitis at some time" was 30.4 % in the group aged 6-7 years and 47.3 % in the group of adolescents. The prevalence of rhinitis was highest in autumn.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of asthma and rhinitis is high in our population and is higher than that observed in most Spanish populations studied.