Bronchial asthma and wheeze in a desert country.

A cross-sectional, population-based study was conducted among school children (3300), aged 7-12 years, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, during the period January, 1988-February, 1990. The aim of the study was to investigate the association between asthma, allergic rhinitis, wheeze and eczema among Saudi school children. The relationship between pet-ownership and respiratory allergy was also studied.

Passive smoking effects on wheezy bronchitis.

Previous epidemiological studies have associated parental smoking with an increased incidence of lower respiratory illness and bronchial asthma. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between parental smoking habits and diagnosed wheezy bronchitis in schoolchildren in Saudi Arabia. In a cross-sectional study 3,041 schoolchildren ages seven to 12 years were randomly selected in Dammam, Jeddah, and Riyadh; representing three different geoclimatic regions of Saudi Arabia.

Prevalence of asthma and wheeze in two different climatic areas of Saudi Arabia.

In a cross-sectional study, the prevalence of asthma and wheeze was studied in 2300 school going children in two different environment and climate regions of Saudi Arabia, Dammam (humid-coastal) and Riyadh (dry-inland). The age range of children studied was 7-12 years (56% boys and 44% girls in Dammam; and 47% boys and 53% girls in Riyadh). A self-administered questionnaire was completed by parents of the children which includes information on age, sex, area, occupation and educational level of parents, history of asthma, allergic rhinitis, eczema, cough, wheeze, animals and pets exposure, family history of allergy and parental smoking habits.

Heredity of asthma in Saudi population.

In a cross-sectional study, the prevalence of asthma, hay fever and eczema was studied in 1150 schoolchildren attending school in Jeddah Western region of Saudi Arabia. The family histories of asthma, hay fever and eczema were examined in first degree relatives. The age range of children studied was 7-12 years, with a mean of 9.

Parental smoking and the risk of childhood asthma.

In order to explore the correlation between parents' smoking habits and bronchial asthma in children, we undertook a cross-sectional study of 3300 (54% males, 46% females) school children aged 7-12 years old. A survey of smoking habits and attitudes conducted in Saudi Arabia showed a positive correlation between parental smoking and asthma. This study showed a significant link between parental smoking and chest wheeze or whistling, cough, and family history of rhinitis.