Hygiena 2018, 63(4):116-121 | DOI: 10.21101/hygiena.a1633

Respiratory diseases in children in the Moravian-Silesian Region (Czech Republic) in comparison with results of the national monitoring

Jana Kratěnová, Kristýna Žejglicová, Vladimíra Puklová

Státní zdravotní ústav, Praha, Česká republika

In 2015 a prevalence study of respiratory diseases in children in the Moravian-Silesian Region (Czech Republic) was carried out in 18 towns by the National Institute of Public Health in cooperation with 73 GPs for children and adolescents. The sample consisted of 7519 children aged 5, 9, 13 and 17 years. The prevalence of all medically diagnosed allergic diseases and asthma was 29.5% and 11.2% respectively. The results were compared with nationwide monitoring of allergies and respiratory diseases in 2016. The probability of prevalence of allergy and asthma presented by Odds Ratio (OR) was significantly higher in children in the Moravian-Silesian Region (OR = 1.10; p = 0.019 and OR = 1.16; p = 0.017, respectively). In addition to diagnosed allergy, highly significant differences were found namely in the occurrence of acute respiratory diseases, such as frequent upper respiratory tract inflammation and acute bronchitis, as well as difficulties connected with symptoms of nasal mucosal irritation (sneezing, watery rhinitis), feelings of tearing and itching of the eyes, cough and wheezing without any acute infection. The prevalence of acute bronchitis (OR = 2.1; p < 0.001) and wheezing without cold or any acute infection (OR = 2.2; p < 0.001) was higher in particular. A higher prevalence of respiratory difficulties was found in all age groups, most notably in five-year-olds.

Keywords: children, allergy, respiratory diseases, Moravian-Silesian Region, Czech Republic

Received: July 2018; Accepted: October 3, 2018; Published: November 30, 2018  Show citation