Prevalence of asthma among school-age children in Qazvin (2003)

¯Abstract Background: Diagnosis and treatment of asthma is of particular importance. Objective: To determine the prevalence of asthma among Qazvin school age children. Methods: This was a descriptive cross sectional study carried out in April 2003. The study was performed using (ISAAC) first phase questionnaires using a selected method for 5936 subjects. The data were analyzed using chi-square test. Findings: Out of a total of 5936 questionnaires sent to the same numbers of selected children only 5068 responses (2518 primary and 2550 secondary) were received. The prevalence of self reported asthma was 2 % and 2.02 % in these two groups, respectively. The prevalence of the life long wheezing history (asthma symptom) was 10% in the primary school children and 26 % in the high school students. Conclusion: Asthma has a moderate prevalence in Qazvin. The regional asthma detection rate is low and this leads to difficulties in accurate treatment of disease. More education recommended for both the members of the public and the clinicians.