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Respiratory Symptoms and Asthma in Primary School Children in Kuala Lumpur
Author(s) -
Omar Azizi Haji
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
pediatrics international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.49
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1442-200X
pISSN - 1328-8067
DOI - 10.1111/j.1442-200x.1990.tb00807.x
Subject(s) - medicine , wheeze , asthma , kuala lumpur , pediatrics , phlegm , chronic cough , allergy , immunology , alternative medicine , traditional chinese medicine , marketing , pathology , business
In a Cross‐sectional Study of 7 to 12‐year‐old primary school children in Kuala Lumpur, the prevalence of chronic cough and/or phlegm, persistent wheeze, and doctor‐diagnosed asthma were 8.0%, 8.0% and 8.7%, respectively. The prevalence of asthma (defined as persistent wheeze and/or doctor‐diagnosed asthma) was 13.8%, 4.3% experienced at least one episode of chest illness that resulted in inactivity for at least 3 days in the previous year. The mean age of commencement of symptoms in the doctor‐diagnosed asthma group was 2.75 years. The prevalence of chronic cough and/or phlegm and persistent wheeze were highest among Indian children (p<0.05). More Malays had been diagnosed as having asthma than the other ethnic groups but the differences were not statistically significant. The patients' fathers' low levels of education were associated with chronic cough and/or phelgm (p<0.05) but not with other complaints. Asthma was significantly more common among boys than girls. No age differences were noted. Further analysis showed that persistent wheeze and doctor‐diagnosed asthma were associated with increased likelihood of other respiratory illnesses or doctor‐diagnosed allergy before the age of 2 years.