Coexistence of asthmatic and non-respiratory allergic symptoms in children of Batumi Region, Georgia: occurrence and association with known diagnosis of asthma.

Objectives: Our recent studies showed that in children in the Batumi region, Georgia, underdiagnosis of asthma is 65%, and that not all children with known asthma had a history of allergic disorders. So, we decided to assess the association of known diagnosis of paediatric asthma with asthma-like symptoms and non-respiratory allergic symptoms and diseases using questionnaire-derived data provided by respiratory health survey.

Methods: Subjects of the cross-sectional population-based study were 3,239 urban and 2,113 rural children aged 5-17 years whose respiratory status was assessed using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire.

Prevalence of and factors associated with underdiagnosis of pediatric asthma in Batumi, Georgia.

Background And Objective: A recent survey in Batumi, Georgia showed a low prevalence of asthma in children (1.8%). A potential explanation is underdiagnosis of asthma.

MATERNAL STRESS AND ENVIRONMENTAL RISK FACTORS OF CHILDHOOD ASTHMA.

Asthma is a common disease with increasing prevalence both in children and adults. WHO estimates that annually 15 million disability-adjusted life-years are lost and 250,000 asthma deaths are reported worldwide. Approximately 500,000 annual hospitalizations are due to asthma.

Childhood asthma in Batumi, Georgia: Prevalence and environmental correlates.

Objective: A relative lack of data for Eastern Europe and unknown epidemiology of childhood asthma in Batumi (Georgia) justified a study aimed at determining the prevalence of physician-diagnosed asthma and related respiratory conditions, a comparison of the prevalence of these conditions between urban and rural children, and identification of their environmental correlates.

Methods: Subjects of the cross-sectional population-based study were 3238 urban and 2081 rural children aged 5-17 years whose respiratory status was assessed using the ISAAC questionnaire.

Results: The overall prevalence of asthma was larger in rural children than in urban children (2.