Prevalence of asthma among schoolchildren in Ahvaz, Islamic Republic of Iran

ABSTRACT

The prevalence of asthma was determined in a random sample of schoolchildren in Ahvaz city, southwest Islamic Republic of Iran, based on the International Study of Asthma and Allergy in Childhood [ISAAC] protocol. The prevalence of ever wheeze and current wheeze was 11.1% and 7.4% among 1410 children aged 6-7 years [parent-reported] and 17.7% and 10.3% among 1450 children aged 13-14 years [self-reported]. The prevalence of ever asthma was significantly higher among 13-14-year-olds [9.8%] than 6-7-year-olds [6.8%] but no significant difference was found between males and females in either age group. Comparisons are made with other Iranian cities and international data