Prevalence and severity of asthma and related symptoms in 6- to 7-year-old schoolchildren of Rio de Janeiro using of the ISAAC questionnaire by telephone survey.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence and severity of asthma and its association with sex in 6- to 7-year-old schoolchildren from the city of Rio de Janeiro (RJ), obtained by a telephone survey. METHODS: A cross-sectional study using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) Written Questionnaire for Asthma adapted and validated by telephone interviews was conducted. The random sample was recruited systematically, without replacement, taking into account the proportion of school classes and students in each regional coordination of the Municipal Secretariat of Education, which supplied the students' telephone numbers. The data were collected by a polling company from May to July 2010. Prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were compared using the difference in proportions test suitable for large samples to analyze the association between asthma and sex. RESULTS: In total, 3216 interviews from parents/caregivers of children were analyzed; 51.4% of the children were males. Mothers were the primary respondents (71.9%). The prevalence rates of "wheezing ever" and "wheezing in the last 12 months" were 52.2% and 20.9%, respectively, and were significantly higher among boys (PR: 1.10, 95% CI: 1.03-1.18 and PR: 1.27, 95% CI: 1.10-1.45). The same pattern was observed for "asthma ever" (PR: 1.44, 95% CI: 1.12-1.85) and for "severe asthma" (PR: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.11-1.82). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of asthma was high among RJ's students. Most of the indicators of the disease were more prevalent among boys. Our results were similar to those observed in other Brazilian and international centers using the traditional ISAAC protocol. The use of this method can be an alternative for epidemiological studies of childhood asthma especially in areas where the telephone coverage is high.

Recent findings on drug hypersensitivity in children.

Drug hypersensitivity reactions (DHR) in children have a significant impact on clinical practice and public health. Both under-diagnosis (due to under-reporting) and over-diagnosis (due to the overuse of the term "allergy") are potential issues. The aim of this narrative review is to describe the most recent findings of DHR in children/adolescents and gaps regarding epidemiology, antibiotic allergy, antiepileptic hypersensitivity, vaccine allergy, and severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCAR) in this age group.

Validity and reproducibility of the asthma core International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) written questionnaire obtained by telephone survey.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the reproducibility and validity of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) asthma written questionnaire (IAWQ) for 6- to 7-year-old children administered to their parents/caregivers through a telephone interview. METHODS: Our study included 100 children selected from three health units in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In total, 50 asthmatic and 50 non-asthmatic children were evaluated; all participants were required to own a household telephone line. Initially, telephone interviews were conducted with the parents/caregivers using the IAWQ. After 2 weeks, parents/caregivers were invited to complete the IAWQ under supervision provided by the researchers. After fifteen days, the telephone interviews were repeated. The reproducibility between the two telephone interviews was assessed using kappa (κ) coefficients; the construct validity was assessed by comparing the answers obtained in the initial telephone interview in both groups according to the clinical diagnosis of asthma performed by a specialist using sensitivity and specificity coefficients. RESULTS: Overall, data from 75 children (39 asthmatics) were analyzed, as 25 patients were excluded from the study (11 did not answer phone calls and the responding parents/caregivers for 14 patients were not the same in all study phases). Perfect agreement was observed for the indicator "wheezing in the last 12 months" (κ = 1), while substantial agreement was observed for the "wheezing with exercise," "speech limited by wheezing," and "asthma ever" indicators (κ range, 0.7-0.8). The sensitivity and specificity for "wheezing within the last 12 months" were 64.1% (95% confidence interval (CI), 47.2-78.8) and 88.9% (95% CI, 73.9-96.9), respectively. For the "asthma ever" indicator, the sensitivity and specificity were 87.2% (95% CI, 77.6-95.7) and 100% (95% CI, 90.3-1), respectively. Questionnaire specificity was high for all asthma severity indicators. CONCLUSIONS: The IAWQ for children aged 6-7 years adapted for telephone interviews showed good reproducibility and adequate validity with an ability to distinguish between asthmatic and non-asthmatic participants. Thus, this method could be utilized in epidemiological studies on childhood asthma in locations where telephone lines are available.

Validation and reproducibility of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) Written Atopic Eczema Questionnaire for telephone survey in children aged 6-7 years.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of atopic eczema is unknown in many countries. The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) is an epidemiological landmark in the study of allergic diseases. OBJECTIVE: To validate and assess the reproducibility of the ISAAC Written Atopic Eczema Questionnaire (WAEQ) for children aged between 6 and 7 years by telephone contact. METHODS: Observational study through interviews with guardians of children aged 6 to 7 years using the ISAAC atopic eczema module questionnaire in three different phases separated by 2 weeks: telephone interviews in the first and third contacts and in-person interviews under supervision in the second contact. Reproducibility was estimated using the Kappa index and validation using the sensitivity and specificity coefficients. RESULTS: Data from 88 children (32 from the atopic eczema group) were analyzed. Reproducibility showed almost perfect agreement for the questions "Recurrent pruritic lesions" and "Lesions in typical locations" (Kappa between 0.81-0.82), while a substantial agreement was observed for all other indicators (Kappa variation between 0.66 and 0.78). The validation showed high specificity (≥ 80.4%) and sensitivity (≥ 87.5%) for all questions, except those related to chronicity and medical diagnosis (34.4% and 40.6%, respectively). STUDY LIMITATIONS: Non-random selection, no sample size calculation, participants from a tertiary hospital and study period coincident with the Coronavirus pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that the ISAAC atopic eczema module questionnaire by telephone interviews has good reproducibility and high agreement with the clinical diagnosis of atopic eczema. It may be an appropriate alternative tool in epidemiological studies of childhood atopic eczema, especially in periods of social isolation.

ERICA: cardiovascular risks associated with oral contraceptive use among Brazilian adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between oral contraceptive use and cardiovascular risks, including metabolic syndrome and their components in Brazilian adolescents. METHOD: This study used data from the Study of Cardiovascular Risks in Adolescents (Estudo de Riscos Cardiovasculares em Adolescentes - ERICA), a nationwide, cross-sectional, school-based study with individuals aged 12-17 years. Sociodemographic variables and OC use were assessed by a self-administered questionnaire. International Diabetes Federation criteria were used to define metabolic syndrome. Descriptive statistics were reported as prevalence and their respective confidence interval of 95% of oral contraceptives according to variables. Logistic regression was performed. Crude and adjusted odds ratios were calculated. RESULTS: This subsample was composed of 22,682 female adolescents, of which 12.65% reported using oral contraceptives and their use was associated with hypertension and hypertriglyceridemia. These associations remained statistically significant after adjusting for age, school region, race, and tobacco use with an increase of 2.68 (1.66 - 4.32) and 3.45 (2.56 - 4.65) times, respectively. CONCLUSION: The present study was the first to examine the association between the use of oral contraceptives and cardiovascular risk factors among the largest number of female Brazilian adolescents. This method was significantly associated with hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia. Teenagers using oral contraceptives should be monitored for side effects, including blood pressure measurements and advised to avoid smoking.

COVID-19 and Pediatric Asthma: Clinical and Management Challenges.

Asthma is the most frequent chronic condition in childhood and a current concern exists about asthma in the pediatric population and its risk for severe SARS-CoV-2 infection. Although all ages can be affected, SARS-CoV-2 infection has lower clinical impact on children and adolescents than on adults. Fever, cough and shortness of breath are the most common symptoms and signs in children; wheezing has not been frequently reported. Published studies suggest that children with asthma do not appear to be disproportionately more affected by COVID-19. This hypothesis raises two issues: is asthma (and/or atopy) an independent protective factor for COVID-19? If yes, why? Explanations for this could include the lower IFN-α production, protective role of eosinophils in the airway, and antiviral and immunomodulatory proprieties of inhaled steroids. Additionally, recent evidence supports that allergic sensitization is inversely related to ACE2 expression. Obesity is a known risk factor for COVID-19 in adults. However, in the childhood asthma-obesity phenotype, the classic atopic Th2 pattern seems to predominate, which could hypothetically be a protective factor for severe SARS-CoV-2 infection in children with both conditions. Finally, the return to school activities raises concerns, as asymptomatic children could act as vectors for the spread of the disease. Although this is still a controversial topic, the identification and management of asymptomatic children is an important approach during the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic. Focus on asthma control, risk stratification, and medication adherence will be essential to allow children with asthma to return safely to school.

Association between asthma and sleep hours in Brazilian adolescents: ERICA.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between asthma and sleep duration in participants of the Study of Cardiovascular Risks in Adolescents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional, national, school-based study, involving adolescents aged 12-17 years. In the period between 2013-14, data from 59,442 participants were analyzed. Bivariate analysis between current asthma and short sleep duration, defined as < 7 h/night, was performed separately with the other variables analyzed: sex, age group, type of school, weight categories, and common mental disorders. Then, different generalized linear models with Poisson family and logarithmic link functions were used to assess the independence of potential confounding covariates associated with both asthma and short sleep duration in the previous analysis. Crude and adjusted prevalence ratios and respective 95% confidence intervals were calculated, and a value of p < 0.05 was considered significant for all analyses performed. RESULTS: Prevalence of current asthma was 13.4%, being significantly higher among students with short sleep duration (PR: 1.17; 95% CI: 1.01-1.35; p = 0.034). This remained significant even after adjusting for the other study covariates. CONCLUSION: There was a positive association between the prevalence of current asthma and short sleep duration among Brazilian adolescents. Considering the high prevalence and morbidity of the disease in this age group, the promotion of sleep hygiene should be considered as a possible health strategy aimed at contributing to better control of asthma in this population.

Asthma and vitamin D in Brazilian adolescents: Study of Cardiovascular Risks in Adolescents (ERICA).

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between asthma prevalence and serum levels of vitamin D in Brazilian adolescents. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional, school-based study involving adolescents between 12-17 years of age from four large Brazilian cities located at different latitudes (Fortaleza, Rio de Janeiro, Brasília, and Porto Alegre). Information on asthma diagnosis, lifestyle, and sociodemographic characteristics was collected by means of self-administered questionnaires. Serum concentrations of calcifediol were dichotomized as sufficient (≥ 20 ng/mL) or insufficient/deficient (< 20 ng/mL) levels. Bivariate analyses were carried out between vitamin D levels and prevalence of active asthma (AA), as well as other variables in study, using the chi-square test. Generalized linear models were configured to analyze potential confounding factors (p < 0.20). RESULTS: Between 2013 and 2014, 1,053 adolescents were evaluated. The prevalences of AA and insufficient/deficient levels of calcifediol were 15.4% and 21%, respectively. There were no statistically significant associations between AA and hypovitaminosis D. The prevalences of AA and vitamin D insufficiency were, respectively, 2.34 (95% CI, 1,28-4.30) and 3.22 (95% CI, 1.75-5.95) times higher in Porto Alegre than in Rio de Janeiro, regardless of possible confounding factors. However, no significant associations were found between the prevalence of AA and vitamin-D-related variables in any of the cities. CONCLUSIONS: No association was found between AA and low levels of vitamin D in adolescents living at different latitudes in Brazil.

RELATIONS BETWEEN ASTHMA AND OBESITY: AN ANALYSIS OF MULTIPLE FACTORS.

OBJECTIVE: Asthma and obesity are prevalent and interrelated diseases. In the pediatric population, the effect of systemic inflammation associated to obesity, leading to inflammation of the airways, is currently controversial. Our aim was to compare inflammatory, clinical and spirometric patterns between children with asthma and obesity and those within the normal weight status range. METHODS: A total of 79 boys and girls from 6 to 10 years old were selected and divided into four groups: obese asthmatics, non-obese asthmatics, obese non-asthmatics, and non-obese non-asthmatics. In addition to collecting clinical and anthropometric data, all children underwent spirometry and skin prick tests for inhalant allergens. Blood samples for measurement of cytokines and adipokines were also collected. RESULTS: Obese asthmatics had significantly worse control of asthma than non-obese asthmatics (OR 4.9; 95%CI 1.1‒22.1), regardless of sex, physical activity and atopy. No differences in spirometry, Th1 and Th2 cytokines and adipokines levels were observed among the four groups. The prick tests were positive in 81.8 and 80% of non-obese asthmatics and obese asthmatics, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The degree of control of asthma was significantly lower in the obese group, regardless of the findings of no differences in spirometry. Extra-pulmonary factors could be responsible for this symptomatic profile. High positivity of skin test in both groups, which is considered a good marker of atopy, shows a preponderant atopic component in the genesis of asthma, both in children with obesity and in those within the normal weight status.

Analysis of filaggrin 2 gene polymorphisms in patients with atopic dermatitis.

BACKGROUND: Polymorphisms of the filaggrin 2 gene (rs 12568784 and rs 16899374) are associated with persistent atopic dermatitis in African American patients. Filaggrin 2 is a protein with a function similar to filaggrin and also encoded in the epidermal differentiation complex on chromosome 1q21. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the polymorphisms in the filaggrin 2 gene (rs 12568784 and rs 16899374) in children and adults with atopic dermatitis and to verify the association of these with the severity of the clinical picture, presence of other allergic diseases, and socio-demographic factors. METHOD: The study was carried out with patients and control group. Questionnaires were used to evaluate ethnicity, sex, age, family history, scoring, atopic dermatitis (SCORAD), among other parameters. Genotyping of the filaggrin 2 gene was performed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Forty-eight patients and 83 controls were evaluated. No correlation was found between the variables studied in patients with atopic dermatitis and polymorphisms, no significant difference between the prevalence of polymorphisms in the patients and in the control group p>0.05. STUDY LIMITS: The exclusive use of self-reported ethnicity information and the sample size. RESULTS: The results of this work can be an incentive for the study of the polymorphisms in atopic dermaititis, considering the characteristic of the Brazilian multi ethnic population. CONCLUSION: This is an unpublished work in Brazil and the first study in the world to have a control group to evaluate alterations in the gene of filaggrin 2.

Association of overweight with asthma prevalence in adolescents in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between asthma and overweight in adolescents. METHODS: Cross-sectional study including 13-14-year-old adolescents in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Asthma was defined according to the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated; overweight was defined as BMI > or = 85th percentile. The distribution of asthma and associated symptoms were compared according weight category using the chi(2) test for linear trend. The association between asthma and overweight, controlling for confounding variables, was studied using odds ratios (OR), confidence intervals (95% CI) and logistic regression, stratified by sex. RESULTS: 2,858 (50.1% female) adolescents were studied; 458 (16.1%) were overweight and 13.3% asthmatic. Average BMI was higher among asthmatics (p = 0.01). When stratified, this difference remained only among girls (p = 0.03). Asthma prevalence increased with higher BMI (p = 0.02). Asthma was associated to overweight (OR = 1.51; 95% CI: 1.07-2.13), irrespective of sedentary lifestyle, smoking mother and presence of dog in the domicile, but only among the girls. CONCLUSIONS: In Rio de Janeiro adolescents, we found a positive association between asthma and overweight, exclusively among girls. This suggests that health policies related to asthma and overweight/obesity in this age group need to take sex into consideration.

ERICA: smoking is associated with more severe asthma in Brazilian adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between smoking and asthma, and possible associated factors in Brazilian adolescents. METHODS: A cross-sectional, national, school-based study with adolescents aged 12-17 years, participants in the Study of Cardiovascular Risks in Adolescents (Estudo de Riscos Cardiovasculares em Adolescentes - ERICA). A total of 66,394 participants answered a self-administered questionnaire with questions about asthma, smoking, lifestyle and sociodemographic variables. Bivariate analysis between Current Asthma (CA) and Severe Asthma (SA) and the other study variables were performed using Chi-squared. Then, the crude and adjusted Prevalence Ratios (PR), and respective 95% Confidence Intervals (95% CI) of current asthma/severe asthma and smoking variables, corrected for sociodemographic and lifestyle variables, were estimated using generalized linear models with Poisson regression, logit link, and robust variance. RESULTS: The prevalence of current asthma and severe asthma were significantly higher in adolescents who were exposed to: experimentation (current asthma: PR=1.78, 95% CI: 1.51-2.09; severe asthma: PR=2.01; 95% CI: 1.35-2.98); current smoking (current asthma: PR=2.08, 95% CI: 1.65-2.64; severe asthma: PR=2.29; 95% CI: 1.38-3.82); regular smoking (current asthma: PR=2.25, 95% CI: 1.64-3.07; severe asthma: PR: 2.41; 95% CI: 1.23-4.73); and passive smoking (current asthma: PR=1.47, 95% CI: 1.27-1.67; severe asthma: PR=1.66; 95% CI: 1.19-2.32); these associations remained significant after adjustment. CONCLUSIONS: Asthma and smoking were significantly associated in Brazilian adolescents, regardless of the sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, notably in those with more severe disease.

Biomarcadores na urticária crônica: qual o seu papel? / Biomarkers of chronic urticaria: what are their role?

A urticária é uma doença com comprometimento universal, e debilitante para a maioria dos pacientes. Caracteriza-se pela ocorrência de episódios de urticas, angioedema ou ambos, determinados pela ativação de mastócitos e outras células inflamatórias com a liberação de vários mediadores. Apresenta etiologia complexa com fenótipos e terapias bem específicas. A urticária crônica possui evolução recorrente e imprevisível, podendo estender-se por anos. Caracteristicamente possui maior prevalência no sexo feminino, com pico de ocorrência entre 20 e 40 anos. A doença pode ser diferenciada pela gravidade, impacto na qualidade de vida do paciente e resposta terapêutica. Biomarcador é uma característica clínica ou laboratorial mensurável de algum estado ou condição biológica, o qual pode influenciar ou prever a incidência de desfecho ou doença. O objetivo deste artigo é realizar uma revisão dos principais biomarcadores promissores e com melhor evidência relacionados à duração, atividade da doença e resposta terapêutica.

Urticaria is a disease of global importance that can be debilitating for most patients. It is characterized by episodes of wheals, angioedema, or both, determined by the activation of mast cells and other inflammatory cells with the release of several mediators. The etiology is complex, involving specific phenotypes and therapies. Chronic urticaria has a recurrent and unpredictable course that can last for years. The prevalence is typically higher in females, with a peak incidence between 20 and 40 years of age. The disease can be classified by severity, impact on quality of life, and therapeutic response. A biomarker is a measurable clinical or laboratory characteristic of a biological state or condition that can influence or predict the incidence of outcome or disease. This study provides a review of the main biomarkers considered promising and with the best evidence related to duration, disease activity, and therapeutic response.

Asma em adolescentes: o que o estudo ERICA nos mostrou? / Asthma in adolescents: what did ERICA study show us?

A asma é uma doença heterogênea caracterizada pela história de sintomas respiratórios que variam de intensidade e ao longo do tempo. Devido à sua alta prevalência, constitui um problema mundial de saúde pública, atingindo todas as faixas etárias, em especial crianças e adolescentes. O objetivo deste artigo foi analisar as produções científicas sobre asma baseadas no Estudo de Riscos Cardiovasculares em Adolescentes (ERICA). Trata-se de uma revisão narrativa incluindo os artigos originais sobre asma baseados nos dados do ERICA, publicados em periódicos indexados em inglês e português. O ERICA foi um estudo multicêntrico nacional realizado em 2013 e 2014, que investigou a prevalência de asma e fatores de risco cardiovascular, incluindo obesidade, diabetes mellitus, hipertensão arterial sistêmica, dislipidemia, tabagismo, sedentarismo, hábitos alimentares inadequados, e a associação entre esses fatores, em adolescentes de 12 a 17 anos, estudantes de escolas públicas e privadas de municípios brasileiros com mais de 100.000 habitantes. Nos cinco estudos selecionados, foi possível demonstrar que a prevalência de asma foi significativamente maior entre adolescentes do sexo feminino em todas as capitais e macrorregiões do Brasil, com predomínio da doença na região Sudeste do nosso país. Além disso, a asma esteve fortemente associada ao tabagismo (passivo e ativo) e foi associada à duração curta do sono. Por outro lado, não esteve associada com os níveis séricos de vitamina D. Em relação aos parâmetros metabólicos, foi observado que a síndrome metabólica e alguns de seus componentes, como a circunferência abdominal, estiveram significativamente associados à asma grave em adolescentes brasileiros.

Asthma is a heterogeneous disease characterized by a history of respiratory symptoms that vary in intensity and over time. Due to its high prevalence, asthma is considered a global public health problem affecting all age groups, especially children and adolescents. This study aimed to analyze scientific papers on asthma based on the Study of Cardiovascular Risks in Adolescents (ERICA). We provide a narrative review of original articles on asthma based on ERICA data published in indexed journals in English and Portuguese. ERICA was a national multicenter study conducted in 2013 and 2014 that investigated the prevalence of asthma and cardiovascular risk factors, including obesity, diabetes mellitus, systemic arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia, smoking, sedentary lifestyle, and inadequate eating habits, and the association between these factors in adolescents aged 12 to 17 years, students from public and private schools in Brazilian cities of more than 100,000 population. In the 5 selected studies, the prevalence of asthma was significantly higher in female adolescents in all capitals and macro-regions of Brazil, occurring predominantly in the southeast region of the country. In addition, asthma was strongly associated with smoking (passive and active) as well as with short sleep duration, but not with serum vitamin D levels. Regarding metabolic parameters, metabolic syndrome and some of its components, such as waist circumference, were significantly associated with severe asthma in Brazilian adolescents.

[Asthma in 13-14-year-old schoolchildren in the city of Nova Iguaçu, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil: prevalence, severity, and gender differences]. / Asma em escolares de 13 e 14 anos do Município de Nova Iguaçu, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil: estimativas de prevalência, gravidade e diferenças de gênero.

This study aimed to assess the prevalence and severity of asthma and related symptoms and the associations with gender in 13-14-year-old schoolchildren in the city of Nova Iguaçu, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. The cross-sectional study used the self-applied International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire. The sample included 3,033 students randomly selected from 37 public and private schools. Prevalence of "any history of wheezing" was 26%, as compared to 11.7% within the last 12 months ("current asthma"), and was higher among girls (PR = 1.46; 95%CI: 1.31-1.62 and PR = 1.72; 95%CI: 1.35-2.21). Symptoms associated with severity, like "sleep disorders" and "speech limited by wheezing" were associated with female gender (PR = 2.57; 95%CI: 1.77-3.73 and PR = 2.07; 95%CI: 1.25-3.43). Although asthma prevalence was lower than in other Brazilian cities, it was still high among schoolchildren in Nova Iguaçu, and was more frequent and severe among girls. Further research is needed to explain the observed differences.

Validation and reproducibility of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) Written Atopic Eczema Questionnaire for telephone survey in children aged 6-7 years

Abstract Background The prevalence of atopic eczema is unknown in many countries. The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) is an epidemiological landmark in the study of allergic diseases. Objective To validate and assess the reproducibility of the ISAAC Written Atopic Eczema Questionnaire (WAEQ) for children aged between 6 and 7 years by telephone contact. Methods Observational study through interviews with guardians of children aged 6 to 7 years using the ISAAC atopic eczema module questionnaire in three different phases separated by 2 weeks: telephone interviews in the first and third contacts and in-person interviews under supervision in the second contact. Reproducibility was estimated using the Kappa index and validation using the sensitivity and specificity coefficients. Results Data from 88 children (32 from the atopic eczema group) were analyzed. Reproducibility showed almost perfect agreement for the questions "Recurrent pruritic lesions" and "Lesions in typical locations" (Kappa between 0.81-0.82), while a substantial agreement was observed for all other indicators (Kappa variation between 0.66 and 0.78). The validation showed high specificity (≥ 80.4%) and sensitivity (≥ 87.5%) for all questions, except those related to chronicity and medical diagnosis (34.4% and 40.6%, respectively). Study limitations Non-random selection, no sample size calculation, participants from a tertiary hospital and study period coincident with the Coronavirus pandemic. Conclusions Our results showed that the ISAAC atopic eczema module questionnaire by telephone interviews has good reproducibility and high agreement with the clinical diagnosis of atopic eczema. It may be an appropriate alternative tool in epidemiological studies of childhood atopic eczema, especially in periods of social isolation.