ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of allergic rhinitis in a random group of schoolchildren aged 13 to 14 years in Brasilia, Brazil, to evaluate tendencies over 6 years and to compare prevalence rates among different socioeconomic groups.METHODS: Two cross-sectional studies were undertaken 6 years apart, using the ISAAC (phases I and III) written questionnaire. Thirty-nine schools were chosen at random from eight administrative regions in Brasilia, and were classified into three groups according to the socioeconomic conditions of the population.RESULTS: A total of 3,009 questionnaires were collected. Of these 53.5% related to female children and 80% to students from public schools. Prevalence rates for diagnosed rhinitis, recent rhinitis and allergic rhinitis were 20, 29.3 and 12.2%, respectively. Rhinitis was more prevalent in private schools than in public ones (17.8 versus 14.1%) and sufferers were predominantly female. Prevalence rates were also higher among populations with higher socioeconomic status (23.5 versus 12.2%). Comparison with the 1996 data revealed significant increases in the prevalence of diagnosed rhinitis (12.7 versus 20%, p = 0.001). These increases were observed at all socioeconomic levels.CONCLUSION: A large number of 13 and 14-year-old children resident in the Distrito Federal exhibit symptoms indicative of rhinitis and the majority of them have allergic rhinitis.Over a six-year period the prevalence of allergic rhinitis increased significantly, predominantly affecting females and with greater prevalence among students at private school and from families with higher socioeconomic status.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Adolescent , Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal/epidemiology , Brazil/epidemiology , Epidemiologic Methods , Seasons , Sex Factors , Socioeconomic Factors , Urban PopulationABSTRACT
Objetivos: Determinar a prevalência de dermatite atópica em adolescentes de 13-14 anos de idade, em Brasília - DF. Avaliar suas tendências após seis anos, comparando os dados de 2002 com os de 1996 e comparar as taxas de prevalência entre os diferentes grupos socioeconômicos. Métodos: Estudo de corte transversal foi realizado seis anos após pesquisa idêntica, utilizando o questionário escrito do protocolo ISAAC (Fases I e lU). Na pesquisa atual, 39 escolas foram escolhidas aleatoriamente entre oito regiões administrativas de Brasília, divididas em três grupos, segundo as condições socioeconômicas da população. Os dados obtidos foram comparados aos de 1996. Resultados: 3009 questionários foram preenchidos adequadamente, sendo 80% provenientes de escolas públicas, com predomínio do sexo feminino (53,6%). As prevalências de dermatite atópica diagnosticada e eczema recente foram 13,6% e 10,2% respectivamente, e predominou no sexo feminino (9,4% contra 4,2% do sexo masculino, p < 0,0001). Houve um aumento significativo da prevalência de dermatite atópica entre os dois períodos estudados (9,8% X 13,6%, p=0,0002), com predominância nos grupos de melhor poder aquisitivo apenas na primeira fase do estudo. Conclusão: Durante um período de seis anos, houve um aumento significativo da prevalência de dermatite atópica em crianças de 13-14 anos de Brasília - DF, que foi semelhante em todos os grupos socioeconômicos.
Objective: To assess the prevalence of atopic dermatitis among 13-14-year-old adolescents from Brasília-DF from different socioeconomic status and to evaluate time trends comparing data from 2002 and 1996. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out six years after another identical one, applying the ISAAC protocol (Phases I and lU), and standardized core written questionnaires. In this study, 39 schools were randomly assigned among those from 8 administrative regions of Distrito Federal. They were divided into 3 groups, based on socioeconomic status and the data were compared to those of 1996. Results: 3,009 questionnaires were correctly answered, 80% from public schools and 53.5% of female gender. The prevalence of diagnosed atopic dermatitis and recent eczema were 13.6% and 10.2% respectively and predominated among girls (9.4% vs . 4.2%, p < 0.0001). There was a significant increase in the prevalence of diagnosed atopic dermatitis between Phases I and lU (9.8 vs. 13.6%, p=0.0002) but it was higher among people with better income only in the first phase of the study. Conclusion: There was a significant increase in the prevalence of atopic dermatitis in 13 and 14-year-old adolescents from Federal District in a six-year period. But unlike the Phase I, there was no difference on the prevalence among social classes.