Children are the vulnerable group at risk of adverse health effects related to air pollution due to dust storm in Ahvaz. The purpose of this study was to compare the values of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) and lung functions as parameters of adverse health effects of particulate matter (PM) in dusty and normal (non-dusty) days in elementary schoolchildren. The study was conducted among elementary school students in Ahvaz. The healthy elementary schoolchildren (N = 105) were selected from different districts for FENO and lung function sampling during the dusty and normal days. The values of PM and PM during dusty days were higher than during normal days. Mean values of FENO during the normal and dusty days were 14.23 and 20.3 ppb, respectively, and the difference between these values was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Lung function results showed a statistically significant difference between the mean values of forced vital capacity during the dusty and normal days (p < 0.05). The results revealed a significant difference both in the values of inflammatory biomarker and in the lung function tests in dusty and normal days. Based on our results, fractional exhaled nitric oxide could be a useful short-term biomarker of particulate pollution effect coupled with spirometry.

BackgroundHealth information on the dimensions of asthma and allergic conditions in Khuzestan Province, as a major industrial and polluted area in Iran as and the Middle East, is inadequate. This study was performed to measure the prevalence of asthma and other allergic conditions in adults in Khuzestan Province.MethodsThis population-based cross-sectional study was carried out in 17 villages and 27 cities of Khuzestan Province during the years 2017–2018 on 20 to 65 year old respondents. Two-stage cluster sampling was used. The ECRHS (European Community Respiratory Health Survey) questionnaire was completed for individuals with additional questions regarding other allergic conditions.ResultsIn the study, 5720 questionnaires were distributed of which 5708 were returned. The prevalence of current asthma was 8.5% and that of asthma-like symptoms was 19.0%. The most common symptoms of asthma were nocturnal cough (13.6%), chest tightness (12.3%) and wheezing (13.1%). The prevalence of allergic rhinitis (AR), eczema and airway hyperresponsiveness were 27.2, 10.7, and 38.7%, respectively. The prevalence of current asthma was strongly correlated with age, current location (city, village), and the smoking status of respondents (p < 0.05).ConclusionThe prevalence of current asthma and asthma-like symptoms in Khuzestan Province is almost twice as high as in Iran. Given the high prevalence of symptoms of airway hyperresponsiveness in the entire province, it is necessary to take environmental measures to mitigate the emergence of new cases of asthma among the residents. In addition, surveillance studies are necessary to monitor the trends in the prevalence of asthma in this province.

IntroductionAccording to the reports of the United States National Bureau of Statistics regarding the prevalence of obesity among adults and children and also asthma outbreak, the relationship between asthma and obesity in developed countries is taken into consideration.AimRelationship between body mass index and increased airway reactivity based on methacholine challenge test results.Material and methodsIt was a retrospective cross-sectional study done on 256 patients who were referred to the lung clinic of the Imam Khomeini Hospital of Ahvaz with symptoms of hypersensitivity of the airways. The patients, who had normal spirometry, were examined by the methacholine challenge test and then they were divided in two groups with positive and negative test results.ResultsThe patients of this study were 12–84 years old and their average age was 36.3 ±12.1 years. Their mean body mass index (BMI) was 28 ±4.7 kg/m2 in the group with positive methacholine and 26.7 ±4.9 kg/m2 in the group with negative methacholine (p = 0.04). It was shown that there has been a statistically significant relationship between BMI and positive methacholine challenge test results (apart from confounding effects of other variables). It seems that the positivity rate of methacholine test rises by 1.06 with an increase in BMI by each unit (p < 0.05).ConclusionsAccording to the results of this study, it can be said that in high BMI there is a statistically significant association between gender (female) and a positive methacholine challenge test result; but there is no statistically significant association between the methacholine dose and BMI.