Study of the prevalence of bronchial asthma and related risk factors in and El-Salam area in Port-Saidprimary school children

ABSTRACT

This study included 131 children aged 6-12 years from 4 primary schools in El-Salam District in Port-Said Governorate. The prevalence of asthma was found to be 11.4% of the population. History of recurrent attacks of wheezy is the principal factor to diagnose asthma. Physical examination and investigations are relatively unimportant in the diagnosis of asthma. Exposure to passive smoke, low socioeconomic status, bad ventilation, crowding, education of mothers and exposure to allergens [animals and insects] were the important risk factors for developing asthma between asthmatic children. On the other hand, smoking infection and house dust precipitate the attacks in all wheezy children. Also, it was found that the recurrent attacks of wheeze affect the children attendance to school and make them absent more than healthy children