Despite the high prevalence of allergic diseases in childhood, asthmatic children's parents/caregivers, elementary school teachers and university students have inadequate levels of knowledge to monitor these patients.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of allergic rhinitis and associated factors in adolescents and in their parents/guardians. Methods: A cross-sectional study, applying a standardized and validated written questionnaire. Adolescents (13–14 years old; n=1,058) and their parents/guardians (mean age=42.1 years old; n=896) living in the city of Uruguaiana, southern Brazil, responded to the Global Asthma Network standard questionnaires. Results: The prevalence of allergic rhinitis in adolescents was 28.0%, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, 21.3%, and severe forms of allergic rhinitis, 7.8%. In the adults, the prevalence of allergic rhinitis was 31.7%. Some associated factors with allergic rhinitis in adolescents include low physical exercise (OR 2.16; 95%CI 1.15–4.05), having only one older sibling (OR 1.94; 95CI 1.01–3.72) and daily meat consumption (OR 7.43; 95% CI 1.53–36.11). In contrast, consuming sugar (OR 0.34; 95%CI 0.12–0.93) or olive oil (OR 0.33; 95%CI 0.13–0 .81) once or twice a week, and eating vegetables daily (OR 0.39; 95%CI 0.15–0.99) were considered factors negatively associated. In adults, exposure to fungi at home (OR 5.25; 95%CI 1.01–27.22) and consumption of meat once or twice a week (OR 46.45; 95CI 2.12–1020.71) were factors associated with the medical diagnosis of allergic rhinitis, while low education (OR 0.25; 95%CI 0.07–0.92) was found to be a factor negatively associated. Conclusions: The prevalence of allergic rhinitis in adolescents is high, as well as its medical diagnosis in adults living in Uruguaiana. Environmental factors, especially food habits, were associated with findings in both groups.

Objective: to characterize AIDS deaths eligible for Porto Alegre AIDS Mortality Committee (AIDSMC) investigation, Brazil, in 2015, and their therapeutic itineraries. Methods: this was a descriptive study using secondary data from surveillance information systems and AIDSMC investigation forms. Results: out of 336 deaths from AIDS-related causes, 113 (33.6%) were considered avoidable, of which 52 were analyzed by AIDSMC; there was predominance of males (30/52), low schooling level (29/52 incomplete elementary education), and less than 2 years between HIV infection diagnosis and death (28/52); tuberculosis was the most frequent cause of death (17/52); and in 50/52 cases at least one therapeutic itinerary inadequacy was identified. Conclusion: avoidable deaths of people with AIDS occurred mostly in men, those with low education level, those with recent HIV diagnosis and most deaths were due to tuberculosis.

Objective: To analyze the characteristics and trends of HIV/AIDS epidemic in Uruguaiana, Rio Grande do Sul, between 2005 and 2015 through indicators related to infection and the cascade of care of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Methods: Descriptive study performed with data from the Health Information Systems of the Ministry of Health. Historical sets of indicators related to detection of HIV/AIDS cases and deaths were developed, comparing with national and state data from 2005 to 2015. Also, the cascades of care for PLWHA were elaborated for the municipality between 2013 and 2015. Results: AIDS detection rates of Uruguaiana were higher in comparison to the country and state, the same happened with the mortality and lethality indicators, which varied between 35.1 and 17.7 deaths/100,000 inhabitants and 6.5 and 2.7 deaths/100 inhabitants, respectively. The cascades of care for PLWHA showed an increase in individuals diagnosed with HIV in the period (from 1,125 to 1,527). The main gap occurred between the “diagnosed” and “connected” categories, expanding over time (78, 48 and 43.4%, respectively). There was a low proportion of individuals in the “undetectable viral load” category in the three years, ranging from 32 to 22.9%. Conclusion: Indicators of detection, mortality, and lethality due to HIV/AIDS are high in Uruguaiana, with an increase in the number of people diagnosed with HIV and decrease in their link with health services, suggesting the need for advances in strategies to attract and link PLWHA to the health care network.

Background The Global Asthma Network (GAN) aims to find out the current status of the prevalence and severity of asthma, rhinitis, and eczema using global surveillance to achieve worldwide recognition and improve the management of asthma, especially in low- and middle-income countries. The aim of this study was to verify the associated factors for asthma in adolescents and their respective parents/caregivers. Methods Adolescents (13–14 years old; n = 1058) and their respective parents/caregivers (mean age = 42.1 years, n = 896) living in the town of Uruguaiana, Southern Brazil fulfilled the standardized questionnaire. Results Although the prevalence of wheezing in the past 12 months was higher among adults than adolescents (18.4% vs. 15.8%, respectively), adolescents showed more severe wheezing and worse control over the disease revealed by higher consumption of short-acting beta-2 agonists; going to the emergency room; hospitalization in the last year and dry night cough. Smoking and paracetamol use were associated with risk for developing asthma symptoms and consuming seafood/fish was protective. For the adults smoking (10 or more cigarettes/day) and exposure to mould in the house were associated with risk for asthma symptoms. Conclusions Adolescents have a high prevalence of asthma symptoms and few have an action plan. Adults do not have their disease under control and they use more relief than preventive medication. Differences in associated factors could determine the outcomes in asthma control among adolescents and their parents.