Bronchial asthma is of great relevance for schoolchildren living in urban Madagascar. Socioeconomic factors and air pollution seem to have a major impact in addition to the number of older siblings.
The equations established for school children in Madagascar's capital Antananarivo showed lung function values were lower than reference values for the same age group seen not only in European, but also in African American and African children. The unique ethnicity of the Malagasy people, which combines Southeast-Asian with substantial African influences, the heavy burden of pollution and poverty may explain these differences.
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