Asthma and anxiety development in Australian children and adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Evidence has suggested a bidirectional association between both the effects and onset of asthma and anxiety. The direction of this association in children and adolescents is less clear. The study evaluates whether anxiety in children is associated with the development of later asthma or, by contrast, whether asthma in children precedes anxiety. METHODS: Parental reports from 9369 children at two age points (4-5 and 14-15 years old) and from baby (B) (recruited at birth in 2004) and kindergarten (K) (recruited at 4-5 years of age in 2004) cohorts of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC) were analyzed. Asthma cases were defined as reports of doctor-diagnosed asthma and the use of asthma medication or/and wheezing. Scores of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) defined anxiety. RESULTS: We found a unidirectional association between asthma in children aged 4-5 years and future anxiety development in weighted generalized linear adjusted models (B cohort OR (CI 95%) = 1.54 (1.14-2.08); K cohort OR (CI 95%) = 1.87 (1.40-2.49)). Children with asthma (no anxiety at 4 years) had a higher prevalence of anxiety in adolescence compared with nonasthmatics (B cohort = 26.8% vs 17.6%: K cohort = 27.7% vs 14.3%). Anxiety in childhood was not associated with the development of asthma from 6 years old to adolescence. CONCLUSION: Australian children with asthma have a greater risk of developing anxiety from 6 to 15 years old. This suggests that early multidisciplinary intervention may be required to support children with asthma to either prevent the increased risk of anxiety and/or promote optimal anxiety management.

Ecological characterization of Aedes aegypti larval habitats (Diptera: Culicidae) in artificial water containers in Girardot, Colombia.

The establishment of habitats for immature Ae. aegypti is regulated by biotic and abiotic factors and interactions between these factors. This study aimed to determine the effects of physico-chemical variables and planktonic algae on immature Ae. aegypti habitats in 101 water tanks (50 of them containing Ae. aegypti pupae and/or larvae) in Girardot, Colombia. Physical data were collected from the water tanks (volume, capacity, material, detritus, and location), along with the physico-chemical variables (temperature, pH, conductivity, redox potential, dissolved oxygen, percentage of oxygen saturation, nitrates, nitrites, and orthophosphates). The richness and abundance of the planktonic organisms were also measured. A chi-square test showed that the occurrence of detritus was greater and the container volume was smaller in the tanks that were positive for larvae. Only Cyanobacteria had a positive correlation with the abundance of immature-stage Ae. aegypti. The results could be important for understanding the vector ecology and envisaging its probable control in the domestic water tanks of Girardot.

Territorial analysis of Aedes aegypti distribution in two Colombian cities: a chorematic and ecosystem approach.

A territorial analysis of Aedes aegypti density was conducted in two Colombian cities using an ecosystem and chorematic approach. Entomological and behavioral data (by cluster) and information on the urban context were used to analyze the relationship between territorial structures and dynamics and vector density. The results were represented in graphic (chorematic) models. Arauca showed higher vector density than Armenia. Higher density was related to unplanned urbanization, flood-prone areas, low socioeconomic strata, household water tanks, higher temperature, and recall of control measures for adult mosquitos. Zones with low density indices coincided with diverse socioeconomic, ecological, and behavioral conditions. The study found a relationship between territorial structures and dynamics and vector density in both Arauca and Armenia, where the interaction between ecological and social systems shape areas with high and low A. aegypti density.

Territorial analysis of Aedes aegypti distribution in two Colombian cities: a chorematic and ecosystem approach / Análise territorial da distribuição do Aedes aegypti em duas cidades da Colômbia: aproximação desde a coremática e a abordagem ecossistêmica / Análisis territorial de la distribución de Aedes aegypti en dos ciudades de Colombia: aproximación desde la coremática y el enfoque ecosistémico

A territorial analysis of Aedes aegypti density was conducted in two Colombian cities using an ecosystem and chorematic approach. Entomological and behavioral data (by cluster) and information on the urban context were used to analyze the relationship between territorial structures and dynamics and vector density. The results were represented in graphic (chorematic) models. Arauca showed higher vector density than Armenia. Higher density was related to unplanned urbanization, flood-prone areas, low socioeconomic strata, household water tanks, higher temperature, and recall of control measures for adult mosquitos. Zones with low density indices coincided with diverse socioeconomic, ecological, and behavioral conditions. The study found a relationship between territorial structures and dynamics and vector density in both Arauca and Armenia, where the interaction between ecological and social systems shape areas with high and low A. aegypti density.

Foi realizada uma análise territorial da densidade do Aedes aegypti em duas cidades da Colômbia, desde um enfoque ecossistêmico e da coremática. Com base em informação entomológica e comportamental (por conglomerados) e informação do contexto urbano, foi indagada a relação de estruturas dinâmicas do território com a densidade vetorial. Foram apresentados os resultados com modelos gráficos (coremática). Identificou-se maior densidade vetorial em Arauca do que na Armênia. Maiores densidades foram relacionadas à urbanização não planejada, zonas de alagamento, estratos socioeconômicos baixos, tanques baixos (reservatórios), maior temperatura e relatório de ações contra os mosquitos adultos. Zonas de densidades baixas coincidiram com diversas condições socioeconômicas, ecológicas e comportamentais. Foi encontrada uma relação das estruturas e dinâmicas do território com a densidade vetorial para Arauca e Armênia, onde a interação entre sistemas ecológicos e sociais configura zonas particulares de alta e baixa densidades de A. aegypti.

Se realizó un análisis territorial de la densidad de Aedes aegypti en dos ciudades de Colombia desde un enfoque ecosistémico y la coremática. A partir de información entomológica y comportamental (por conglomerados) e información del contexto urbano, se indagó la relación de estructuras y dinámicas del territorio con la densidad vectorial. Se representaron los resultados con modelos gráficos (coremática). Se identificó mayor densidad vectorial en Arauca que en Armenia. Mayores densidades se relacionaron con urbanización no planeada, zonas de inundación, estratos socioeconómicos bajos, tanques bajos (alberca), mayor temperatura y reporte de acciones hacia los mosquitos adultos. Zonas de densidades bajas coincidieron con diversas condiciones socioeconómicas, ecológicas y comportamentales. Se encontró relación de las estructuras y dinámicas del territorio con la densidad vectorial para Arauca y Armenia, donde la interacción entre sistemas ecológicos y sociales configuran zonas particulares de alta y baja densidad de A. aegypti.