Resumen

ZABERT, Ignacio; BENITEZ, Sergio  y  ZABERT, Gustavo E. Prevalencia de síntomas de asma en niños expuestos a ceniza volcánica. Rev. am. med. respir. [online]. 2015, vol.15, n.4, pp.306-313. ISSN 1852-236X.

Background: Volcanic eruptions have different health impacts on exposed population and the respiratory system is one of the most affected due to the inhalation of volatilized products. Experimental studies in guinea pigs showed that chronic exposure to volcanic ash from the eruption of the Puyehue-Caulle complex is associated with inflammatory airway response. To date, it has not been reported respiratory health impact of children exposed to this. Objective: To determine children´s asthma symptoms prevalence 2 years after Puyehue-Caulle complex´s eruption. Methods: Cross-sectional study was conducted among 13 and 14 years old children attending 11 secondary schools in San Carlos de Bariloche City, Rio Negro. They were surveyed with ISAAC´s questionnaires and spirometry and carbon monoxide in exhaled air measurements were performed to each subject. Results: 303 subjects were surveyed, 56% were male and 47% belonged to public schools. 12,8% were active tobacco smokers, 27% had wheezing sometime in the life and 14% had wheezes in the last year (based on ISAAC questionnaire). Only 1% of the spirometry had airway obstruction. Conclusions: The prevalence of last year asthma symptoms increased compared with a previous study.

Palabras clave : Asthma prevalence; Volcanic ash; Volcanic eruption.

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