[Prevalence of asthma in schoolchildren from the Mexican city Hermosillo]. / Prevalencia de asma en niños escolares de la ciudad mexicana de Hermosillo.

Asthma is a very common disease, but its prevalence greatly varies from region to region, even in the same country. In the northwest of Mexico there is a lack of epidemiological studies on this disease. In this work a standardized questionnaire (ISAAC) was applied to parents of children attending 8 primary schools in the Mexican city of Hermosillo, Sonora. Of 3000 questionnaires sent, 1489 (49%) were acceptably answered. Children were of either sex and 9.1 +/- 1.8 years old (mean +/- SD). From this population, 74 (10.4%) out of 713 male and 67 (8.6%) out of 776 female children had an affirmative response to que question "Have you ever had asthma?", from which we conclude that global prevalence of asthma in the studied sample was 9.5%, an intermediate figure among those reported from other studies performed in Mexico.

[Epidemiologic monitoring system for the diabetic patient; use of computerized technology in the quality of medical care]. / Sistema de vigilancia epidemiológica para el paciente diabético; el uso de tecnología computacional en la calidad de la atención médica.

OBJECTIVE: To describe an instrument for epidemiologic surveillance of diabetes mellitus and evaluating the quality of care in primary health care. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was conducted from January 1, 1998, to June 30, 1999, at the Epidemiology and Health Services Research Unit of the Mexican Institute for Social Security (IMSS), in Hermosillo, Sonora. A single data collection form was designed, which contains items included in the diabetes care clinic of the Unit of Family Medicine of the Mexican Institute of Social Security. RESULTS: We developed and implemented a software program to enter data from the paper format and to generate individual and group reports on attendance to scheduled medical visits, medical history, evolution of signs and symptoms, laboratory tests, and medication. CONCLUSIONS: Electronic data systems allow the availability of reliable and continuing information for surveillance of the comprehensive care of the diabetic patient.

[Acceptance and use of medicinal plants in family medicine]. / Aceptación y uso de herbolaria en medicina familiar.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the degree of usage of therapeutic medical plants among the patients, physicians and health workers in a local Family Medical Care Unit of the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS)). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A transversal descriptive study was performed. A questionnaire focusing on two variables was designed and validated. It was applied to 60 family physicians, a randomized sample of 130 health workers and another of 264 patients of the Family Mediccal Care Unit. Response percentage was 78%. RESULTS: The study found that 83% of family physicians accept the therapeutic use of herbal medicine; moreover, 75% use it as a therapeutic resource. Among health workers, acceptance and use was 100%, while in patients the level of acceptance was of 92% and of use it was 90%. Differences between groups are significant (p < 0.05). The more frequently used plants are Gordolobo (Gnaphalium sp.), Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus sp., probably E. globulus), spearmint (Mentha sp.), camomile (Matricaria chamomilla) and prickly pear cladodes (the vegetative parts of the prickly pear, Opuntia sp. Probably Opuntia ficus indica). CONCLUSIONS: This information agrees with previous reports about Mexico, however, in this case, data were gathered in urban areas where physicians have been trained in the biomedical paradigm of medicine.