[Asthma control status in Tunisia]

Transversal study during hospital allergology visit which aim is to evaluate asthma control levels in Tunisia. Questionnaire issue of global initiative for asthma [GINA] guidelines. 400 asthmatics were included [70%of women and 30%men], aged 32 +/- 11 years old. Asthma was intermittent in 43%of patients, mild persistant [27%], moderate [14%] and severe in 16%of patients. Daytime symptoms were observed in 56%of cases, nocturnal symptoms in 40%, exacerbations in 39%of cases, activities limitation in 44%of cases and need of rescue treatment in 56%. Controller medications were used in 63%of patients. Inhaled Gluocorticosteroids were used in 90%of patients with persistent asthma. Subjective self evaluation of asthma showed that 83%of patients felled better with treatment, whereas, asthma objective control was obtained only in 10%of them. For the rest, asthma was partly controlled in 35%of patients and uncontrolled in 55%. College and professional absenteeism was observed in 60%of cases, with a mean of 1 to 5 days per month. Control factors seem to be young age, non smoker status and mild persistent asthma. Although GINA 2006 guidelines and treatment progress, an important rate of asthmatics [90%] continue to present symtoms, underuse their treatment and Overestimate control level of their disease

Prevalence of exercise induced bronchoconstriction in teenage football players in Tunisia

Studies on exercise-induced bronchoconstriction [EIB] in team sports are lacking. The aim of this study was to screen for EIB among amateur teenage football players in Tunisia and to compare EIB prevalence between regions. One hundred ninety-six male football players [mean age [SD], 13.5 [0.5] yrs], practicing in three different cities of Tunisia [Tunis, Sousse and Sfax], underwent an outdoor free run of 7 minutes. Forced expiratory volume in one second [FEV [1]] was recorded prior to and at 0, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 30 minutes after the run. Players were screened for EIB positivity defined as a greater than 10% decline in FEV [1] from the resting value at any time point. FEV [1] decreased more than 10% in 30% of the players. EIB positivity was more common in Sfax [15.8%] than in Tunis [7.7%] [P =.03]. Air humidity during the study was higher in Tunis. EIB is prevalent among amateur teenage football players in Tunisia. The prevalence differs between regions and seems to be dependent on air humidity levels