Estimation of prevalence of bronchial asthma in preschool and prepubertal children using international study of asthma and allergies in childhood criteria in Raipur Chhattisgarh

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Bronchial asthma is the most common chronic disease affecting children and young adults. The prevalence of asthma is on the rise worldwide with increasing levels of pollution. The epidemiology of asthma is a growing area of research. There is a paucity of data from central India, especially from Raipur, which has become the capital of Chattishgarh since the year 2000. This community-based study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of bronchial asthma in school going children aged between 6–7 years and 13–14 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study using ISSAC questionnaires was conducted across 12 schools in Raipur, selected on a random basis. The required sample size of 1000/age group was needed according to International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood criteria, so a total of 2029 children were recruited in both age groups. Data were managed in Microsoft Office Excel and were analyzed using tests of proportion. RESULT: Out of 2029 children evaluated, 153 (7.54%) had a positive history of wheezing throughout their lives and the relative number of wheezy girls was 7.56% as compared to boys 7.52%. Comparison between two age groups 6–7 and 13–14 years, wheezing incidence of 7.37% and 7.71% was similar with no significant difference. Confirmed asthma was detected in 2.32% of cases. No significant difference was noted in both age groups, i.e. 1.97% in 6–7 and 2.67% in 13–14 years. Higher incidence of exercise-induced wheeze was noted in older age group (13–14 years) children 5.04% versus 4.23%. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of bronchial asthma was 2.32% in children in Raipur. Increasing trends in prevalence due to increasing pollution needs environmental measure to control pollution.