Objective: We compared the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and clinical conditions associated to bronchial asthma and exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB) in schoolchildren from public and private schools.
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional questionnaire (ATS-DLD-78 C modified) survey in 2941 children 6-14 years of age attending public (n = 1951) and private (n = 1350) elementary and secondary schools in Rio de Janeiro.
Results: Wheezing was found in 842 (28.6%) students; 684 students (23.3%) showed symptoms of EIB; 342 (11.6%) children related hospitalization owing to respiratory problems; previous use of bronchodilators (BD) was reported by 1072 (36.5%) children; bronchiolitis, pneumonia and rhinitis were observed in respectively 40 (1.4%), 185 (6.3%) and 1088 (37%) children. Family history of atopy and immunotherapy were related by 1794 (61%) and 577 (19.6%) students, respectively. Asthma diagnosed by a physician was observed in 779 (26.5%) children. Using questionnaire criteria we found 638 (21.7%) children with asthma; 354 in public and 284 in private schools. Data statistical analysis showed a higher frequency of EIB, hospitalization and pneumonia in students attending public schools (26.3%, 15.9% and 7.2%, respectively). Children in private schools showed a higher frequency of family history of atopy and immunotherapy (63.7% and 23.6%, respectively).
Conclusions: We found a high prevalence of asthma among students of public and private elementary and secondary schools in Rio de Janeiro, without statistical differences between the two groups of children. Episodes of EIB were also highly prevalent in this study, with a higher frequency among students of public schools.