Prevalência de asma e rinite alérgica em escolares no município de Santo Ângelo/RS

Introducao: A asma e uma doenca inflamatoria cronica, caracterizada por hiper-responsividade das vias aereas inferiores que se manifesta por episodios recorrentes de sibilância, dispneia, aperto no peito e tosse. Objetivo: Determinar a prevalencia de asma e rinite alergica em adolescentes do municipio de Santo Ângelo/RS. Metodologia: Foi realizado um estudo observacional, prospectivo e transversal; a amostra foi constituida por estudantes de 13 a 14 anos. Foram investigadas as variaveis: sexo, idade e interferencia dos sintomas das doencas nas atividades diarias atraves da aplicacao de um questionario epidemiologico padronizado do ISAAC (International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood). Resultados: O numero de questionarios aplicados foi de 1.031, sendo considerados validos 979 (94,9 por cento). A prevalencia de asma nos adolescentes foi de 10,5 por cento, baseada na questao “ja teve ou tem asma”. A prevalencia de rinite alergica foi de 34,6 por cento, baseada na questao “ja teve ou tem rinite alergica”. Quanto a polinose “alergia ao polen na primavera” a prevalencia foi de 30,4 por cento. Considerando-se o sub-diagnostico das doencas, a prevalencia de provaveis asmaticos foi de 12 por cento e a de adolescentes com provavel rinite de 12 por cento. Conclusao: A prevalencia de asma no presente estudo mostrou-se entre os valores medios mundiais e nacionais, ja as prevalencias de rinite alergica e polinose mostraram-se elevadas de acordo com as medias de outros estudos. Estes dados apontam que em Santo Ângelo/RS essas doencas constituem um problema de saude publica entre os adolescentes. Introduction: Asthma is an inflammatory chronic disease, characterized as a hyperresponsivity of the lower airways that manifests itself through recurrent episodes of sibilance, dyspnea, chest pressure, and coughing. Aim: To determine the prevalence of asthma and allergic rhinitis in adolescents living in the municipality of Santo Ângelo/RS. Methods: An observational transversal, prospective study was performed, the sample comprising 13- and 14-year-old students. The variables sex, age, and interference of the symptoms of the disease in the daily activities were investigated through the administration of the standardized epidemiological questionnaire of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). Results: Of the 1,031 questionnaires responded, 979 (94.9 percent) were considered as valid. The prevalence of asthma among the adolescents was 10.5 percent, based on the question: “Have you ever had asthma?”. The prevalence of allergic rhinitis was 34.6 percent, based on the question “Have you ever had allergic rhinitis?. As for pollen allergy during the spring, the prevalence was 30.4 percent. Considering the underdiagnosis of the diseases, the prevalence of probable asthmatics was 12 percent and of adolescents with probable rhinitis was 12 percent. Conclusion: The prevalence of asthma in the present study was consistent with the reported mean world and national values, but the prevalences of allergic rhinitis and pollen allergies were high as compared to the means reported elsewhere. The data indicate that in Santo Ângelo, RS these conditions are a public health problem among adolescents.