Regional differences in diagnosing asthma and other allergic diseases in Estonian schoolchildren.

Unlabelled: The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of asthma and other allergic diseases among Estonian schoolchildren of the cities lacking special (pediatric allergological) health care.

Material And Methods: The study, carried out through 1 March to 8 May, 2003, enrolled 5th- to 12th-grade schoolchildren of 4 schools in different regions of Estonia. A three-step protocol was followed: screening questionnaire, examination by a pulmonary resident, and consultation by a pediatric allergologist.