Document Detail


Asthma prevalence in Melbourne schoolchildren: have we reached the peak?
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  15012564     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
OBJECTIVE: To determine the change in prevalence of asthma, eczema and allergic rhinitis in Australian schoolchildren between 1993 and 2002. DESIGN: Questionnaire based survey, using the protocol of the International Study of Asthma and Allergy in Childhood. SETTING: Metropolitan Melbourne primary schools within a 20 km radius of the GPO in 1993 and 2002. SUBJECTS: All children in school years 1 and 2 (ages 6 and 7) attending a random sample of 84 schools in 1993 and 63 schools in 2002. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Parent-reported symptoms of atopic disease; treatment for asthma; country of birth. RESULTS: There was a 26% reduction in the 12-month period prevalence of reported wheeze, from 27.2% in 1993 to 20.0% in 2002. The magnitude of reduction was similar for boys (27%) and girls (25%). The 12-month period prevalence of reported eczema increased from 11.1% in 1993 to 17.2% in 2002, and rhinitis increased from 9.7% to 12.7%. There were reductions in the proportion of children attending an emergency department for asthma in the previous year (3.6% to 2.3%), the proportion admitted to hospital (1.7% to 1.1%) and the proportion taking asthma medication (18.5% to 13.4%). Of those who reported frequent wheeze, there was an increase in the proportion taking regular inhaled steroids (34.5% to 40.9%). CONCLUSION: There has been a significant reduction in the prevalence of reported asthma in Melbourne schoolchildren, whereas the prevalence of eczema and allergic rhinitis has continued to increase.
Authors:
Colin F Robertson; Mary F Roberts; Johanna H Kappers
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Multicenter Study    
Journal Detail:
Title:  The Medical journal of Australia     Volume:  180     ISSN:  0025-729X     ISO Abbreviation:  Med. J. Aust.     Publication Date:  2004 Mar 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2004-03-11     Completed Date:  2004-04-13     Revised Date:  2005-11-17    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0400714     Medline TA:  Med J Aust     Country:  Australia    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  273-6     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Royal Children's Hospital, Flemington Road, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia. colin.robertson@rch.org.au
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Anti-Asthmatic Agents / therapeutic use
Asthma / epidemiology*,  therapy
Child
Disease Management
Eczema / epidemiology
Humans
Prevalence
Respiratory Sounds
Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / epidemiology
Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / epidemiology
Victoria / epidemiology
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Anti-Asthmatic Agents
Comments/Corrections
Comment In:
Med J Aust. 2004 Mar 15;180(6):263-4   [PMID:  15012561 ]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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