Exercise induced asthma in school children of south Punjab, Pakistan

To find the prevalence of exercise induced asthma, in school children of South Punjab, Pakistan. It was a cross sectional, questionnaire based, descriptive survey of the children aged 3-18 years, in randomly selected primary and secondary schools, from October 2002 to March 2003. The data then was analyzed by the statistician with Statistical Analysis System [SAS]. Of 6120 questionnaire sent to the parents/guardians, we received 3180 back [52%]. Of the 3180 respondents, 1767[56%] were for boys and 1413[44%] were for girls. The median age was 8.25 years. Around 71% of children were between 4 to 11 years of age. The parents reported exercise induced asthma in 306[10%] of their children with an equal prevalence in boys and girls i.e. [5% each, when figures were rounded off to the nearest whole number]. Of this 306 children with exercise induced asthma, 159 [51%] were boys and 147[49%] were girls. Of the 1767 boys and 1413 girls, the exercise induced asthma reported by parents was 9% in boys and 10% in girls, [159 and 147 respectively]. The exercise induced asthma was not reported in 14-18 years age group of males. The asthma is taken as a stigma in our society and as such is not reported or disclosed rather denied. An extensive educational media campaign is required for awareness of the masses