Risk factors for asthma in Iraqi children.

Abstract

Background: Although a large number of studies of asthma had been conducted, the etiology of childhood asthma is not yet established. Both life style factors and environmental exposure during early life may play important roles. Objective: To evaluate the risk factors for asthma in Iraqi primary school children. Patients and Methods: The sample consisted of 2875 children, who were between 11 and 14 years of age at the time of enrollment in the Regional Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (RSAAC) and were subsequently followed up at their schools. Results: The prevalence of asthma when assessed by interview was 7.2 % [95 % confidence interval (CI) 6.3 %- 8.3%], while it was 8.9 % [95 % CI 7.9 %- 10.0%] when assessed by clinical examination. There was no significant difference between the prevalence of asthma in males and females. Exposure