Authors

1 Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics of beast hospital, Department of Pediatrics of beast hospital Cellular & Molecular Research Center, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran.

2 MD, Kurdistan University of Farhangian , Sanandaj, Iran.

3 Medical Students, Student Research Committee, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran.

4 Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics of Beast Hospital, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran.

5 Associate Professor, Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran.

6 Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

7 Epidemiology MSc, Department of Disease Prevention of Health Deputy, Kurdistan University of medical science Sanandaj, Iran.

Abstract

Background
Asthma is one of the most important childhood diseases in developing countries. The prevalence, mortality, and economic burden of the disease have taken a rising trend since 1960, and this increase was more marked in children. The presents study aimed to assess the prevalence of asthma symptoms diagnosed by International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire in Kurdistan province, Western Iran.
Materials and Methods
In  a  cross-sectional study, to collect the required data 4,000 questionnaires were distributed among student aged 6-7 years and 13-14 years; and the response rate was 97 percent. An ISAAC questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-demographic variables, past health history, and respiratory health. Descriptive statistics, logistic regression and Chi-square test were use for analysis.
Result.
The prevalence of asthma diagnosed by physician was 3.9%. The prevalence of wheezing was 26.5% in the province in the past 12 months. There was a large difference between different cities in terms of the prevalence rates, so that it varied from 1.7% in Dehgolan to 8% in Sarvabad; hence, the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05).
Conclusion
There was a relatively high prevalence of wheezing in the past 12 months and previous diagnosis of asthma among the students in Kurdistan province which was higher than that in other similar studies.

Keywords