First report of asthma prevalence in Afghanistan using international standardized methods.

No data on the prevalence of asthma in Afghanistan have been published before. In a school-based survey in 2010-2011 the wheezing section of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire was completed by a random sample of 1500 children aged 6-7 years and 1500 adolescents aged 13-14 years old. The prevalence of physician-diagnosed asthma was 12.5% in 6-7-year-olds and 17.3% in 13-14-year-olds (P = 0.002). The prevalence of wheeze in the last 12 months was similar in children and adolescents (19.2% and 21.7% respectively). The prevalence of ever wheezing, night attacks, speech-limiting wheeze and exercise-induced wheeze was 23.1%, 4.8%, 12.2% and 9.6% respectively in children and 30.5%, 4.4%, 13.0% and 13.6% respectively in adolescents. These rates are higher than those in neighbouring countries. This first epidemiological survey of asthma in Afghanistan shows that asthma and wheezing are common in Kabul students.

First report of asthma prevalence in Afghanistan using international standardized methods

No data on the prevalence of asthma in Afghanistan have been published before. In a school-based survey in 2010–2011 the wheezing section of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire was completed by a random sample of 1500 children aged 6–7 years and 1500 adolescents aged 13–14 years old. The prevalence of physician-diagnosed asthma was 12.5% in 6–7-year-olds and 17.3%in 13–14-year-olds (P = 0.002). The prevalence of wheeze in the last 12 months was similar in children and adolescents (19.2% and 21.7% respectively). The prevalence of ever wheezing, night attacks, speech-limiting wheeze and exercise-induced wheeze was 23.1%, 4.8%, 12.2% and 9.6% respectively in children and 30.5%, 4.4%, 13.0% and 13.6% respectively in adolescents. These rates are higher than those in neighbouring countries. This first epidemiological survey of asthma in Afghanistan shows that asthma and wheezing are common in Kabul students.

Aucune donnée sur la prévalence de l’asthme en Afghanistan n’a encore été publiée. Dans une enquête en milieu scolaire de 2010 à 2011, la partie sur les sibilances du questionnaire International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) a été remplie par un échantillon aléatoire de 1500 enfants âgés de 6 à 7 ans etde 1500 adolescents âgés de 13 à 14 ans. La prévalence du diagnostic d’asthme posé par un médecin était de 12,5 % chez les enfants de 6 à 7 ans et de 17,3 % chez les adolescents de 13 à 14 ans (P = 0,002). La prévalence des sibilances au cours de 12 mois précédents était similaire chez les enfants et chez les adolescents (19,2 % et 21,7 %, respectivement). La prévalence des sibilances, des crises nocturnes, des sibilances limitant la parole et d’une respiration sifflante induite par l’exercice était de 23,1 %, 4,8 %, 12,2 % et 9,6 %, respectivement chez les enfants et de 30,5 %, 4,4 %, 13,0 % et 13,6 % respectivement chez les adolescents. Ces pourcentages sont supérieurs à ceuxdes pays voisins. La première enquête épidémiologique sur l’asthme en Afghanistan révèle que l’asthme et les sibilances sont fréquents chez les élèves de Kaboul.