Prevalência de asma em escolares de 13 a 14 anos na cidade de Cajazeiras-PB.

Abstract

Introduction: Asthma is the most frequent chronic disease in the pediatric age group, comprehended from zero to eighteen years of age, resultant great impact for patients and their families. Their prevalence varies greatly in different Brazilian regions studied, which depends on environmental factors, socioeconomic level and of population genetics. Objective: To identify to prevalence of asthma in children from 13 to 14 years in the city of Cajazeiras-PB. Methodology: This is a descriptive observational study using a quantitative approach, cross-sectional with population base. The estimated population was composed of 2.000 students, in the age group 13-14 old, regularly enrolled in the primary schools of public and private network of the said municipality in the period from April to August 2015. The sample in turn was composed by 483 schools, accidentally chosen, from 11 public schools and 3 private. As instrument of collection of data we used a written questionnaire used by International Study of Asma and Allergies in Childhood. Data were stored and analyzed from the software Epi Info 7.0. Respecting the ethical aspects of research with human beings, the study was submitted to approval of the Ethics Committee of the Federal University of Campina Grande/Teacher Training Center (UFCG/CFP). Results: It was observed that 304 (62,90%) adolescents were 13 years old and 179 (37.10%) 14 years of age, and 245 (50.72%) being female and 238 (49.28%) males. It was observed that 168 (34.78%) adolescents had wheezing ever in life; 93 (19.25%) active asthma; 28 (5.80%) severe asthma. Those who have had asthma already, 23 (13.69%) had severe asthma (p = 0.002, CI: 1.655 to 12.786); 61 (12.63%) asthma diagnosed by a doctor and 91 (18.84%) had wheezing with exercise, and 52 (30.95%) already had asthma activity (p = 0.000, CI: 1.928 to 7.248). Conclusion: The prevalence of asthma found in the study population was shown very high, it is compatible with the national average found in Brazilian cities, that used the ISAAC protocol. Therefore, it is evident that in Cajazeiras-PB, as well as in Brazil, asthma is a public health problem and, therefore, that is very important its effective management to control the disease.