Body mass index, allergic rhinitis and asthma in children

Abstract

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} Objective To assess the possible relationship of bodyweight and body mass index (BMI) to childhood asthma and allergic rhinitis. Setting Chilaw divisional secretariat area. Design Prospective observational study. Method Children aged 13-14 years in 20 out of 22 schools were assessed from April to June 2003 using the internationally validated ISAAC questionnaire on asthma and allergies. The children and parents filled the questionnaire. Height and weight of children were measured using a standardized procedure. Reference ranges for the normal BMI data were obtained from reference growth charts of Ministry of Health. Data was analysed using Epi info version 6.0. Results Total number of children recruited was 866. 185 (21%) gave a positive response to ever having had wheezing. Allergic rhinitis was found in 233 [27%]. Only 97 [11%] had both asthma and allergic rhinitis. The BMI was 85th centile in 418 (48.3%) and >85th centile in 41 (4.7%). Conclusion No significant association was found between BMI and asthma/allergic rhinitis in 13-14 year old school children in the Chilaw area.Sri Lanka Journal of Child Health, 2004; 33: 102-5(Key words: Body mass index, asthma, allergic rhinitis, children) Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} doi: 10.4038/sljch.v33i4.619