Asthma in Schoolchildren

Abstract

In a survey of asthma among schoolchildren, a questionnaire was sent to the parents of 10,527 children aged 7-16 years. A group of 420 children with asthma was thereafter identified. Their asthma symptoms had caused little absence from school (none in the past 6 months in 60% of the group, and greater than 5 days in only 13%). During the preceding year 40% of the group had had more than 10 days of restricted physical activity due to asthma. Severe symptoms due to undertreatment were uncommon. Although 68 children were receiving no medication, most of them appeared to have only mild symptoms, and the parents requested aerosol inhaler in only ten cases. Symptoms at school were usually related to sporting activities. In 40% of the total asthma group the symptoms were unknown to the school health service before the survey. Dissatisfaction with the service was expressed by 24% of the parents of asthmatic children.

High prevalence of asthma and related symptoms in teenagers in northern Sweden

“…The present results may be compared with earlier findings in Sweden (table 6), based partly or totally on questionnaires, and dealing partly with teenagers. The diagnostic criteria for asthma vary, but are mostly based on selfreported data of wheezing or dyspnoea [2,[7][8][9], or the clinician's diagnosis [1]. The present results are more consistent with the results from previous studies from the north of Sweden [9,10], than with those from the south [1,2,7,8].…”

“…The diagnostic criteria for asthma vary, but are mostly based on selfreported data of wheezing or dyspnoea [2,[7][8][9], or the clinician's diagnosis [1]. The present results are more consistent with the results from previous studies from the north of Sweden [9,10], than with those from the south [1,2,7,8]. However, the studies from Northern Sweden were performed more recently than those from Southern Sweden.…”

“…Recently, several studies [8][9][10] have shown that the prevalence of asthma in Northern Sweden is higher than in the rest of Sweden. The reasons for this are unknown, but it is thought that geographical differences in climate and house building may account for this [3, 8}. The aim of the present study was to examine the prevalence of asthma and symptoms from lower airways in pupils in grade eight in school (most aged 14 yrs) in the municipality of Umea, and to form a cohort for prospective studies.…”