Abstract

PEREIRA, Ana Margarida et al. Wheezing in preschool children in Portugal: Prevalence, characterization and association with rhinitis. Rev Port Imunoalergologia [online]. 2014, vol.22, n.3, pp.215-226. ISSN 0871-9721.

Background: The aims of this study were to (i) estimate the prevalence of current wheezing (CW) in preschool children, (ii) describe socio‑demographic and personal characteristics associated with CW and (iii) study the association between CW and rhinitis type and severity. Methods: Cross‑sectional, nationwide, population‑based study including a representative sample of Portuguese children aged 3 to 5 years. Data was collected by face‑ to ‑face interview to caregivers using an adapted ISAAC questionnaire. CW was defined as the presence of ≥1wheezing episode in the previous 12 months. Results: Overall, 5003 children were included. CW prevalence was 24.5% [95%CI(23.3‑25.7)]; 9.4% of the participants had ≥4 wheezing episodes in the previous year and less than 5% reported to have physician‑diagnosed asthma. CW prevalence was significantly higher in children with current rhinitis (CR, 38.6%), food allergy (32.0%) or family history of allergy (31.2%); those living in rural regions had a lower CW prevalence (19.1%). Children with moderate‑severe persistent rhinitis presented the highest CW prevalence (64.7% vs. 34.0% in mild intermittent, 41.7% in mild persistent and 46.2% in moderate‑severe intermittent rhinitis). Children with both CW and CR, when compared with those with CW alone, had more wheezing episodes (43.9% vs. 26.9% had ≥4 episodes, respectively, p<0.001) and more needed treatment (44.8% vs. 37.9% received treatment, respectively, p=0.024). Conclusions: Almost 25% of preschool children reported current wheezing. Having rhinitis was associated with a higher prevalence, especially in moderate‑severe persistent disease, in which around 65% of children reported current wheezing. Preschool children with both current wheezing and rhinitis seem to have a more severe phenotype

Keywords : Preschool child; prevalence; rhinitis; wheezing.

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