Environmental Determinants of Bronchial Asthma among Saudi School Children in Southwestern Saudi Arabia

Abstract

The aim here was to study the possible environmental and dietary determinants of asthma among school-aged children in Southwestern Saudi Arabia. In a cross-sectional study on a representative sample in Najran in Southwestern Saudi Arabia using an Arabic version of the modified ISAAC Phase III, parent-administered questionnaire data were collected. Skin prick tests (SPTs) were performed. The study included 1700 school children, out of them 468 (27.5%) were diagnosed with, cases of bronchial asthma and 20.8% (353) reported a 12-month nocturnal cough (as a proxy of severe asthma). In multivariable analysis, the study identified the following risk factors for having asthma or severe asthma: having dogs in the house, being male, being exposed to dense truck traffic on the street, using wood as a cooking fuel, conducting vigorous exercise, consuming eggs, consuming vegetables, having an allergic sensitization to dog hair, and being exposed to Cladosporium, pigweed, and Bermuda grass. On the other hand, the following food stuffs were found to be protective: seafood, fruit, and dairy products. Comprehensive school educational programs for both children and their parents should be adopted to prevent the use of wood in cooking and heating, to ensure that house pets are properly cared for, and to encourage proper dietary habits. Physicians should be informed of the patterns of allergens in order to improve asthma diagnosis and management.

Epidemiology and Environmental Determinants of Bronchial Asthma Among Children in Al-Madina, Saudi Arabia

“…In this current research, there was a positive significant association between egg consumption and nocturnal dry cough, reported by 12.43% of asthmatic children; this is in accord with what was reported in the previous study in Southwestern Saudi Arabia (9). Moreover, a positive association was observed between seafood and nocturnal dry cough, by 6.48% of total asthmatic children, which in contrast to the finding of the previous study in Southwestern Saudi Arabia (9).…”

“…Exposure to air pollution caused by truck traffic or industry will trigger oxidative stress, inflammation of the airway, and consequently exacerbate asthma in children (16). In the current study, there is a positive significant relationship between nocturnal dry cough/dyspnea and car exhaust fumes, reported by 9% of the total sample, these results were found in previous studies in Southwestern Saudi Arabia (9) and Germany (16). The current study found several different irritants, including dust, perfume, and incense, which exacerbated nocturnal dry cough, dyspnea and wheezing in children.…”

“…The current study found several different irritants, including dust, perfume, and incense, which exacerbated nocturnal dry cough, dyspnea and wheezing in children. This is confirmed by multiple studies in Southwestern Saudi Arabia (9) and Germany (16).…”

“…Results of a Chi-Square test from Table (9) showed that there is a statistically significant association between breastfeeding a baby during the first three months and symptoms of bronchial asthma among children, since Chi-Square (26.567) had P-value (0.022 < 0.05). Figure 1 shows these results.…”

“…Host determinants include a family history of allergies, atopy and genetic factors (7). Multiple environmental factors are also likely to play an important role in the triggering of asthma from childhood with a combination of host factors, including air pollution, indoor and outdoor allergens and exposure to tobacco smokers (8,9). Moreover, in Najran in Southwestern Saudi Arabia, a study was conducted to assess possible environmental and dietary determinants of asthma among school-aged children.…”