Association between family structure, parental smoking, friends who smoke, and smoking behavior in adolescents with asthma.

Recent investigations show that the smoking prevalence among asthmatic adolescents is higher than among healthy adolescents, and the causes that lead these asthmatic adolescents to smoke are unclear. We investigated the association between family structure, parental smoking, smoking friends, and smoking in asthmatic adolescents (n = 6,487). After adjusting for sex and age, logistic regression analyses showed that nonintact family structure, parental smoking, and smoking friends are associated with smoking in adolescents with and without asthma. Asthmatic adolescents who reside in the household of a nonintact family have a 1.90 times greater risk of smoking compared with those who live with both biological parents. It is important that parents who have children with asthma be made aware that the presence of smokers in the home and adolescent fraternization with smoking friends not only favor the worsening of asthma, but also induce the habit of smoking.

Effect of allergic rhinitis, asthma and rhinobronchitis on dental malocclusion in adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of allergic rhinitis (AR), asthma, rhinobronchitis (ARB) on dental malocclusion in adolescents. METHOD: This is a cross-sectional, observational, retrospective and sample descriptive study of 2556 adolescents aged 14-20 years. AR, asthma and ARB were defined by self-reported. Malocclusion was identified by direct physical examination. Data were analyzed by the SPSS 10.0 version statistical program, adjusted OR value (Odds Ratio) using a logistic regression model was determined, ji square was calculated, an 95% Confidence Intervals was used. Equal or smaller values of p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Percentage of male sex was 42.7% and female 57.3%. Prevalence of AR was 39.3%, asthma 6.9%, ARB 4.5%, and malocclusion, 37.2%. A higher percentage of malocclusion was found in adolescents with asthma (48.3% vs 36.3%). For the groups of asthma (adjusted OR = 1.78; p = 0.017) and RA (fit OR = 1.20, p = 0.032) were inferred that these pathologies to favor the malocclusion in adolescents, this did not happen with the group of RBA (OR fit = 0.81; p = 0.511). The prevalence of open bite was greater in adolescents with asthma (44.3% vs. 31.3%). For the asthma group (OR fit = 1.66; p = 0.037) we deduced that the development of anterior open bite is favored, this was not thus for the groups of RBA (OR fit = 1.01; p = 0.956) and RA (OR fit = 1.17; p = 0.071). Nor AR, asthma orARB have any effect on posterior open bite. CONCLUSIONS: Asthma is related to malocclusion in adolescents, particularly to anterior open bite. AR and ARB do not favor the development of malocclusion.

Meconium aspiration syndrome, parental atopy and asthma symptoms in children under two years old.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the association among meconium aspiration syndrome, parental atopy and asthma symptoms in children younger than two years. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred thirty six children who had suffered meconium aspiration syndrome were followed from birth to they were two years old. CONTROL GROUP included 136 healthy children without meconium aspiration syndrome. RESULTS: Group of children with meconium aspiration syndrome: The average hospital stay in neonatal intensive care unit was of 5.91 +/- 4.44 days and were given 65.5 +/- 16.6 hours of oxygen. Prevalence of asthma symptoms during the last year was of 41.2%; 35.7% had family history of allergies (p = NS). The average age at the beginning of asthma symptoms was of 12.64 +/- 6.96 months; 78.6% of children were male. CONTROL GROUP: 30.9% had wheezing episodes during the last 12 months; 28.6% were male; 38.1% had family history of allergies (p = NS). The average age at the beginning of asthma symptoms was of 15.57 +/- 6.05 months. CONCLUSION: Aspiration of meconium seems to be an important risk factor of the early beginning of asthma symptoms in children younger than two years. Data shows that the prevalence of asthma symptoms was higher in case group than in control group. Asthma symptoms risk increases in children with aspiration meconium syndrome and family background of allergies.

[Symptomatic treatment of allergic rhinitis with mequitazine (Primalan)]. / Tratamiento sintomático de la rinitis alérgica con mequitazina (primalan).

AIMS: Allergic rhinitis is a very frequent inflammatory disease of nasal mucosa that warranties its symptomatic treatment. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the therapeutic effect of the mequitazine in the treatment of patient with allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis symptoms, the grade of the physician and patient satisfaction, as well as the quality of life and the side effects of the treatment. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Clinical multicentric, open, longitudinal study made in the Mexican Republic with patients from 3 to 18 years of age and 113 doctors. All the patients were carried out a clinical evaluation, registration of the intensity of the symptoms and signs and the affectation in their daily activities. The diagnosis of allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis settled down with base on the data of the clinical history and the exploration. All the patients were prescribed mequitazine. To those of 3 to 5 years of age: 7.5 mL a day, to those of 6 to 12 years: 10 mL, and to those of 12 to 18 years a pill of 10 mg a day. RESULTS: 374 patients were studied: 44.5% of the female sex. The age limits with more number of patients were from 3.5 to 11 years. The percentage of patients in a moderate or severe state at the beginning of the study was of 74%. To the first revision they went down to 22%. In second 16%, at third the moderate form represented 8% and the severe form disappeared. The doctor qualified the results of excellent to very good in 88% of the cases and the patient or his relatives in 85%.

[Efficacy of mequitazine (Primalan) on the relief of symptoms of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis in children. Documented clinical experience]. / Eficacia de la mequitazina (Primalan) en el alivio de los síntomas de la rinoconjuntivitis alérgica en niños. Experiencia clínica documentada.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical efficacy of mequitazina in the relieve of symptoms of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: An open, non comparative, national multicenter study (performed by pediatricians, oto-rhino-laryngologists and allergists of different states of Mexico), in order to describe the clinical experience related to treatmente efficacy with oral mequitazina in pediatric formulation about diminished characteristic symptoms of allergic rhinitis, assessed by the physician and patient. RESULTS: Physicians considered that efficacy was excellent in 42% of patients, very good in 38%, good in 16%, regular in 3% and bad in 0.2%. Patients assessed as: excellent in 47% of patients, very good in 35%, good in 15%, regular in 2% and bad in 1%. Only 5% of patients experienced adverse effects, which were transient and did not need treatment withdrawal. CONCLUSIONS: Mequitazina is an option to relieve symptoms of patients with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis.