Abstract

GRACIA, Mariana Paulino; MELLO, João Ferreira de; FERNANDES, Maria de Fátima M.  and  WANDALSEN, Neusa Falbo. Frequency of asthma, allergic diseases and related symptoms among young adults of Santo André, state of São Paulo. Rev. bras. crescimento desenvolv. hum. [online]. 2008, vol.18, n.2, pp. 201-208. ISSN 0104-1282.

AIM: To determine the Frequence and severity of symptoms related to asthma, rhinitis and atopic eczema in young adults, using the standard self-applicable ISAAC written questionnaire (WQ). METHOD: 747 students of Faculdade de Medicina do ABC (Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy) were randomly chosen to answer the WQ. Six hundred students correctly and completely answered the WQ. Relative and absolute frequencies of affirmative answers to the analyzed questions were calculated. RESULTS: The mean age of the studied population was 26 years (17-28) and 67% were women. The prevalence of active asthma (wheezing in the last 12 months) was 15.3% and of severe asthma (speech difficulty during the crisis), 2%. The Frequence of rhinitis was 62.1% (35.8% with severe symptoms), of rhinoconjunctivitis, 33.8%, and of flexural eczema, 6.6%. With the exception of asthma and its symptoms, there was predominance of these diseases in females. The analyzed data indicate the need for further studies in young adults and the use of markers for allergic and atopic diseases.

Keywords : Asthma; Rhinitis; Eczema; Prevalence; ISAAC; Allergy.

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