Prevalência de Asma em Escolares da Rede Pública de Ensino

Abstract

Asthma is the most common chronic children disease in and there has been a considerable increase in cases in recent decades. The aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence of asthma in children six years of age, enrolled in public schools in the city of Goiânia, Goiás. It was a cross-sectional population-based study with students of both sexes from April to July 2014. Data were collected through interviews with 508 children from 27 selected schools. The data analysis used the implementation of Phase I of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire in wich parents were interviewed to identify cases and related symptoms. Descriptive analysis was performed and the data was stratified by gender and the percentages of the responses concerning asthma symptoms were calculated. This study found that the prevalence of asthma in children 6 years old in Goiânia was high and that the disease is underdiagnosed in this population. This was the first population-based study conducted in schools in Goiânia for this age group, and the need for additional studies is evident in order to implement active public policies and applicability for the diagnosis, treatment and management of disease.