ABSTRACT
Las Infecciones Respiratorias Altas son las enfermedades más comunes en la infancia. Es posible contraerlas aún sin factores de riesgo; aunque, sí existen mayor número de factores, más alta es la probabilidad de enfermar. Objetivo: Identificar factores de riesgo asociados a las Infecciones Respiratorias Altas Recurrentes en menores de 5 años de la Habana Vieja. Método: Se realizó un estudio analítico de casos y controles para identificar factores de riesgo asociados a las Infecciones Respiratorias Altas Recurrentes en menores de 5 años de la Habana Vieja entre enero y junio del 2008, se estudiaron 40 niños con IRAR seleccionados por muestreo por conveniencia y 40 controles. Se aplicaron encuestas a los familiares. Resultados: La IRAR más frecuente fue la Adenoiditis con 18 casos (45%). Todos los casos tenían antecedentes personales y familiares de alergia, contra un 37,5% y un 62,5% respectivamente en los controles. La lactancia adecuada fue más frecuente en los controles. El 70% de los casos estuvo expuesto al humo del tabaco, y los controles solo el 25%. El 92,5% de las viviendas de los casos y el 70% de los controles tenían animales, principalmente perros. El frío (92,5%), los cambios de temperatura (80%) y la humedad (80%) se consideraron factores de riesgo ambientales en este estudio. Conclusiones: Los factores de riesgo que inciden en las IRAR son: los antecedentes personales y familiares de alergia, la lactancia materna inadecuada, la exposición al humo del tabaco y la presencia de animales domésticos, el frío, el cambio de tiempo y la humedad
The Upper Respiratory Infections are the most common diseases in childhood. It is possible to get it even with no risk factors; although, if there are more factors, the higher it is the probability of illness. Objective: to identify risk factors associated with Recurrent Upper Respiratory Infections (RURI) in children under 5 years old from Habana Vieja municipality. Method: It was carried out an analytic study of cases and controls to identify risk factors associated with Recurrent Upper Respiratory Infections (RURI) in children under 5 years old from Habana Vieja municipality between January and June of the 2008; 40 children with RURI were studied selected by convenience sampling and 40 controls. The relatives were also surveyed. The group of cases was compared with the control group and then it was analyzed if the exhibition factor was associated to the RURI by means of the test of chi square, for that which was considered as significant a p<0.05 in which case the test of odds ratio was applied to determine if really the factor or characteristic is or not of risk. Results: the most common of RURI was Adenoiditis with 18 cases (45%). All the cases had personal and family history of allergy, compared with 37.5% and 62.5% respectively in controls. The adequate breastfeeding was more frequent in controls. 70% of the cases were exposed to tobacco smoke, and controls only 25%. 92.5% of the homes of the cases and 70% of the controls had animals, especially dogs. Cold weather (92.5%), temperature changes (80%) and humidity (80%) were considered environmental risk factors in this study. Conclusions: risk factors affecting the RURI were: personal and family history of allergy, inadequate breastfeeding, exposure to the smoke of tobacco and the presence of domestic animals, cold weather, changing weather and humidity