Study of methacholine positivity in patients with chronic cough at Masih Daneshvari hospital, Tehran, 2007-08

While airways reactivity is among the characteristics of asthma, is not considered a sufficient condition diagnostically and the methacholine challenge is a non-specific diagnostic aid in cases of chronic cough and reactive airways disease. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine the metacholine response positivity and diagnosis of asthma in patients with chronic cough presenting to a hospital in Tehran during 2007 and 2008. Of 101 patients with chronic cough [with no history of sinusitis, recent pulmonary infection, bronchitis, gasteroesophageal reflux or underlying pulmonary conditions], 51.5% showed reactive airways disease to the methacholine test, 40.6% were unreactive and 7.9% were indeterminate. A positive methacholine challenge test was positively correlated with new wheezing. Although the methacholine challenge test is not a primary test for evaluating chronic cough, if no other reason for chronic cough is found, it may be a guiding test for asthma

Asthma and other allergic diseases in 13-14-year-old schoolchildren in Urmia: an ISAAC study

We determined the prevalence and risk factors of asthma, allergic rhinitis and atopic eczema in 3000 13-14-year-old schoolchildren in Urmia, Islamic Republic of Iran. We used the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood [ISAAC] written and video questionnaires. With the written questionnaire, the prevalence of current symptoms [within the past 12 months] was: wheeze 14.5%, allergic rhinitis 23.6% and eczema 10.1%. Self-reported asthma ever was only 2.1%. With the video questionnaire, the prevalence of wheeze was lower; 7.4% for wheeze at rest ever and 4.6% during the past 12 months. Boys had a significantly higher prevalence for most items examined except for eczema

Prevalence of wheeze among preschool children in Basra governonate, southern Iraq

A community-based survey was carried out in Basra governorate, Iraq, to estimate the prevalence of wheeze among children under 5 years old and to identify possible risk factors. It was found that 15.8% of the 424 preschool children enrolled in the study had a history of wheeze. More wheezy children lived in the city [16.3%] than in the rural area [15.0%]. Family history of asthma in first-degree relatives was significantly associated with wheeze [44.8% of children with wheeze versus 15.1% without wheeze]. Other household factors-parents' low educational level, formula or supplemental feeding as a baby, overcrowding, smoking at home, pet ownership and using kerosene-were associated with wheeze, but the results were not statistically significant. The role of environmental factors and feeding patterns needs to be further evaluated