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| Authors | S Montefort P. Ellul S Caruana M Montfort H Agius Muscat |
| Abstract | The cumulative and current prevalences of wheezing and rhinitis in 5 8 yr old Maltese schoolchildren were compared between 1994 and 2001 when the ISAAC study was carried out using the same questionnaire filled in by each childs guardian. In 1994 3506 [78.5% response rate] of 5 8 yr children attending state primary schools participated in the study while in 2001, 3816 [80% response rate] took part. 19.1% of these children were wheezers ever in 1994 and this figure increased to 30.2% in 2001 [p<0.00001]. This trend repeated itself for wheezing within the past year 8.8% vs 14.8% [p<0.0001]. Although in 2001 the current wheezers were more likely to have exercise-induced wheezing [p<0.005] and nocturnal cough [p<0.0001], they had less frequent wheezing episodes [p<0.0001] and less acute severe asthmatic attacks [p=0.004], The rising trend in prevalence in wheezing was mirrored in rhinitis with the cumulative prevalence rising from 23.4% to 28.7% [p<0.0001] and current rhinitis from 20.7% to 24.4% [p<0.0001] between 1994 and 2001. Current rhinitics were more likely to have mild symptomatology in 2001 [p<0.0001] and were most likely to have their nasal problems earlier in the year than in 1994 [February vs April]. Cumulative prevalences of both whezing and rhinitis were higher in boys in 2001 [p<0.001] whereas this gender difference was not significant in 1994.. Maltese doctors were also more prone to diagnose wheezing as asthma and recurrent nasal symptoms as hayfever [p<0.0001] in these children in 2001. |
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| Journal | Malta Medical Journal |
| Volume | Volume 15 (suppl) |
| Pages | - |
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| Key words | trends, prevalence, morbidity, wheezing, rhinitis, paediatrics |