Prevalence In Schoolchildren Research Articles

Community-wide benefits of targeted indoor residual spray for malaria control in the Western Kenya Highland

BackgroundInterest in indoor residual spray (IRS) has been rekindled in recent years, as it is increasingly considered to be a key component of integrated malaria management. Regular spraying of each human dwelling becomes less and less practical as the control area increases. Where malaria transmission is concentrated around focal points, however, targeted IRS may pose a feasible alternative to mass spraying. Here, the impact of targeted IRS was assessed in the highlands of western Kenya.MethodsIndoor residual spray using lambda-cyhalothrin insecticide was carried out during the last week of April 2005 in 1,100 targeted houses, located in the valley bottom areas of Iguhu village, Kakamega district of western Kenya. Although the uphill areas are more densely populated, valleys are believed to be malaria transmission hotspots. The aim of the study was to measurably reduce the vector density and malaria transmission in uphill areas by focusing control on these hotspots. A cohort of 1,058 children from 1-5 yrs of age was randomly selected from a 4 km by 6 km study area for the baseline malaria prevalence survey after pre-clearing malaria infections during the third week of April 2005, and the prevalence of Plasmodium infections was tested bi-weekly. Seasonal changes in mosquito densities 12 months before the IRS and 12 months after the IRS was monitored quarterly based on 300 randomly selected houses. Monthly parasitological surveys were also carried out in the same area with 129-661 randomly selected school children of age 6-13 yrs.ResultsThe result of monthly parasitological surveys indicated that malaria prevalence in school children was reduced by 64.4% in the intervention valley area and by 46.3% in the intervention uphill area after 12 months of follow-ups in contrast to nonintervention areas (valley or uphill). The cohort study showed an average of 4.5% fewer new infections biweekly in the intervention valley compare to nonintervention valley and the relative reduction in incidence rate by week 14 was 65.4%. The relative reduction in incidence rate in intervention uphill by week 14 was 46.4%. Anopheles gambiae densities were reduced by 96.8% and 51.6% in the intervention valley and intervention uphill, respectively, and Anopheles funestus densities were reduced by 85.3% and 69.2% in the intervention valley and intervention uphill, respectively.ConclusionVector control had significant indirect impact on the densely populated uphill areas when IRS was targeted to the high-risk valleys. Additionally, the wide-reaching benefits of IRS in reducing vector prevalence and disease incidence was observed for at least six months following spraying, suggesting targeted IRS as an effective tool in malaria control.

Schistosoma haematobium prevalence in school children in the rural Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

The urine of 209 children was examined for haematuria and the presence of schistosome eggs. Comparing the infection rate of 72.3% with existing data suggests an increase in the prevalence over the last decades. Schistosomiasis lacks the attention it deserves in South Africa.

Overweight and obesity prevalence in schoolchildren and evaluation of their healthy nutrition knowledge

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate over weight and obesity prevalence and healthy nutrition knowledge in adolescents aged 11-14 years, living in the town of Parvomai in district of Plovdiv. Material and methods: The over weight and obesity prevalence was assessed according to the international cut off points for body mass index for over weight and obesity proposed by Cole et al, 2000. A questionnaire of V. Duleva, 2005 was used for evaluation of healthy nutrition knowledge. Results: The results show that 20% of the studied boys and 12% of the girls are with over weight and obesity. The questionnaire's data show that a considerable part of the adolescents have not good information about healthy nutrition. Conclusion: Recommendations about elaboration of adequate educational programs for nutrition in the schools were made. The aim of this strategy is the development of healthy nutritional behavior in adolescents. Scripta Scientifica Medica 2009; 41(2): 187-189.

Variables associated with bruxism in children and adolescents

The aim of the study was to assess the variables associated with bruxism and its prevalence in school children and adolescents. A group of 680 school children of both genders aged 4 -16 years old was randomly selected. Data were gathered by clinical exam and questionnaires filled out by guardians. Statistical analyses were performed by Chi-square test, Odds Ratio and SPSS package. Some factors like heredity, respiratory problems, headaches, difficulty with falling asleep, sleep talking and the schoolchild’s disquiet temperament were associated with bruxism occurrence. Bruxism prevalence was 43%. No gender differences were found. It could be concluded that bruxism seems to play a significant role in the schoolchildren’s quality of life, and thus deserves proper identification. However, additional studies should be conducted by multidisciplinary teams involving sleep medicine, dentistry and psychology, in order to best understand its etiology.

Associated factors in high blood pressure among schoolchildren in a middle size city, southern Brazil

To establish the prevalence of high blood pressure and associated factors among schoolchildren from Caxias do Sul, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. This school-based cross-sectional study assessed boys and girls aged 7 to 12 years from private and public schools. Three measurements of the children's blood pressure were taken during one visit to the schools. Weight, height, and waist circumference were measured. We also assessed the children's aerobic capacity (9-minute running test) and socioeconomic status. Statistical analysis was carried out using the chi-square test and logistic regression in order to control for confounding factors. The sample included 1,413 children. Prevalence of schoolchildren with high blood pressure was 13.8% (systolic, diastolic, systolic/diastolic), and the proportion was higher (double) for obese and/or overweight children in comparison to normal-weight children. Children with increased waist circumference had 2.8 times greater chance of having high blood pressure levels than those with appropriate waist circumference (95% confidence interval 2.513-3.186 and p = 0.000). Individuals belonging to a high social class, defined according to the Brazilian National Economic Index, had 2.6 times greater chance of having high blood pressure. In the present study, schoolchildren aged 7 to 12 years from Caxias do Sul had high prevalence of high blood pressure levels; increased waist circumference, high socioeconomic status, and low physical capacity were associated with this condition. We suggest that measures be taken to promote the practice of physical activity and dietary control to improve blood pressure levels and thus reduce risk factors.

Subjective health, symptom load and quality of life of children and adolescents in Europe

To examine cross-cultural differences in the prevalence of school children's subjective health types and the pattern of socio-demographic and socio-economic differences. Within the cross-sectional Health Behaviour in School-aged Children 2005/2006 Survey 200,000 school children aged 11, 13 and 15 answered a general health item, the Cantrill life satisfaction ladder and a subjective health complaints checklist. ANOVA and multilevel logistic regression models were conducted. Overall, 44% of the respondents reported multiple recurrent health complaints, only poor to fair general health, low life satisfaction or a combination of these. Older adolescents (OR: 1.1-1.6) and girls (OR: 1.2-1.4) reported more health problems, the gender difference increased with age (OR: 1.3-1.6). Low socio-economic status was also associated with health problems (OR: 1.4-2.3). Sizeable cross-national variation in the prevalence of health types and the impact of the above mentioned factors were observed, yet the main pattern of impact could be confirmed cross-culturally. Increasing social and gender role pressure with growing age, as well as restricted access to material resources and psychosocial strains are discussed as potential explanations for the observed health inequalities.

Increased goiter prevalence in schoolchildren of Isfahan despite long-term iodine sufficiency

Iodine Deficiency (ID) was for years considered a contributing factor for endemic goiter in Iran. The present study was conducted to assess the goiter prevalence and iodine status in schoolchildren of Isfahan 16 years after the initiation of salt iodization in Iran. 2331 schoolchildren, aged 6-13 years were selected by multistage random sampling. Thyroid size was estimated in each child by inspection and palpation and was graded according to the criteria recommended by WHO. Urinary Iodine Concentration (UIC) was also measured. Overall, 32.9% of the 2331 students had goiter. 4.6% of them were classified as goitrous grade 2. The median UIC was 195.5 microg/l (Range: 10-580 microg/l). 15.8% of total samples had iodine excretion level below 100 microg/l and 3.7% had iodine level below 50 microg/l. UIC in nongoitrous and goitrous children was (mean+/-SD) 220.91+/-119.44 microg/l and 220.16+/-114.64microg/l, respectively (p= 0.949). According to the present study there is no biochemical ID and the iodine intake of the total population is adequate. Goiter prevalence has decreased significantly after the new legislation, nevertheless it is still a public health problem in this region. The data suggest that other goitrogens, micronutrient deficiencies and thyroid autoimmunity may be operative and must be investigated in Isfahan schoolchildren.

Caries Prevalence in Schoolchildren of the Rural Zone of Jacinto Machado, SC, Brazil

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of dental caries, treatment needs and associated factors in schoolchildren aged 7 to 14 years living in the rural zone of the city of Jacinto Machado, SC, Brazil. Method: This was a transversal study involving all 402 children regularly attending public schools. The children were examined according to the WHO criteria. Additionally, a questionnaire arguing about sociodemographic issues and access to services was submitted to the students. Data were collected by a dentist and a research auxiliary, previously trained and calibrated. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics. Chi square test and Fisher’s exact test were used for assessing the existence of association between the studied variables. Significance level was set at p<0.05. Logistic multiple regression analysis was performed for the endpoint prevalence of restored teeth. Results: Disease prevalence was 89.2% in the permanent dentition and 63.8% in the primary dentition. Mean DMF-T was 4.8, indicating a high caries severity according to the WHO criteria. Mean dmf-t was 3.5, characterizing a moderate severity. The most contributory component to the composition of the DMF-T index was “decayed” (71.2%), followed by “filled” (24.4%). In the primary dentition, the “decayed” component was the most contributory (79.4%), followed by “missing” (16.6%). Regarding the treatment needs, the restorative treatment presented the highest prevalence (76.8%), followed by extraction (17.3%). The multiple analysis showed that having received previous preventive instructions conferred 3.5 times more chances of presenting filled teeth compared to the lack of preventive information; having been treated at facilities others than the health stations conferred 2.9 times more chances; and being aged 11 to 14 years conferred 2.1 times more chances of having restored teeth, regardless of the other analyzed factors. Conclusion: There was a high prevalence and severity of dental caries in the studied population.

3rd College of Paediatrics and Child Health Lecture – The Past, the Present and the Shape of Things to Come…

The growth trends of Singapore children spanning 5 decades are reviewed, based on 8 anthropometric studies from 1957 till 2002. The heights of pre-school children and school age children appear to have optimised according to their genetic potential, but the weights and body mass indices of children still appear to be increasing from 6 to 18 years for both sexes, probably as a consequence of increasing affluence. This trend is reflected in the increasing obesity prevalence in school children over the past 30 years, and the concomitant increased morbidity associated with the metabolic syndrome, necessitates further research into the causes of obesity. Barker's hypothesis first suggested that changes in the intra-uterine environment can cause fetal adaptations which persist into adulthood, and are responsible for many chronic diseases of adult life. More recently, intense research in the field of epigenetics suggests that the environment can also influence the phenotype through gene expression, through modification of DNA methylation and histones which, in turn, influences gene expression. The challenge for the future is to determine if there are clear epigenetic changes, which are responsible for the increased prevalence of childhood and adolescent obesity, and whether these changes are transmitted through generations. Unravelling these epigenetic mechanisms may be the key to the prevention of obesity and the metabolic syndrome.

Iodine status and goitre prevalence in nitrate-exposed schoolchildren living in rural Bulgaria

Nitrate and perchlorate are well-known water pollutants that are harmful to human health. They may inhibit the accumulation of iodide in the thyroid gland. The present study investigated iodine status and goitre prevalence in schoolchildren aged 7-14 years from two villages in Bulgaria with high and low levels of nitrate, and negligible levels of perchlorate in drinking water. Comparison between the mean and median urinary iodine concentrations of the exposed and non-exposed children showed a statistically significant difference for the boys. A statistically significant difference was also found for goitre prevalence between the exposed and non-exposed children. The relative risk for schoolchildren exposed to a high level of nitrate in drinking water, expressed as an odds ratio, was 3.014 (95% confidence intervals 1.293-7.027; P=0.0105) and this was considered to be significant. This study confirmed that a high level of nitrate in drinking water is a risk factor for thyroid dysfunction in this population.

Intestinal helminthiasis in children in a suburb of Lagos, Nigeria: Evaluation of risk factors and habits

Various risk factors have been known to predispose children to intestinal helminths infections. We evaluated the impact of multisectoral risk factors on infection prevalence in school children using questionnaire and stool examination. Pupils' hawking habits, schools, classes, antihelminthic prophylaxis, parents' occupation and mothers' educational status were the significant risk factors identified. Logistic regression identified four of the aforementioned factors, age, sex, disposal of excreta and/or septic tanks overflow into open drainages as factors influencing prevalence in this population. Irregular deworming probably reduced the effect of prophylactic use of antihelminthic on prevalence. Hawkers (odds ratio = 3.78) and pupils living in faeces contaminated environs were identified as at risk groups. Public enlightenment campaigns on worms' infestation control strategies, including the reduction of environmental contamination with faeces should reduce intestinal helminthiasis in these children. African Journal of Clinical Experimental Microbiology Vol. 8 (2) 2007: pp. 107-113

Chlorinated Pools: Bernard et al. Respond

We are pleased to respond to Eggleston because this offers us the opportunity to respond to some of the criticisms that have been formulated since we originally proposed the pool chlorine hypothesis (Bernard et al. 2003). First, the divergent effects of chlorine [described in our recent study (Bernard et al. 2006)]—when this chemical is used to clean surfaces or to sanitize recreational water—are not inconsistent. Chlorine is a nonspecific biocide, and there are clearly situations in which the beneficial effects of this agent need to be balanced against its possible adverse effects. As we explained in the “Discussion” of our recent articles (Bernard et al. 2006; Nickmilder et al. 2007), exposure conditions are radically different when children live in a house cleaned with bleach compared with when they attend an indoor chlorinated pool. When a house is cleaned with bleach, children are not likely to be exposed to high concentrations of chlorine gas or trichloramine because they are not directly involved in the cleaning tasks. In that situation, the balance for children—but not necessarily for people doing the cleaning—is clearly in favor of the beneficial effects of chlorine from a decreased risk of asthma and respiratory allergy (Bernard et al. 2006; Martyny et al. 2005; Nickmilder et al. 2007). In contrast, when attending an indoor pool, children are directly in contact with the chlorination products that they actively inhale as gases, aerosols, or even water. It can be argued that the time children spend in a swimming pool is limited, but we should not forget that chlorine-based chemicals are rapidly acting oxidants, a property essential to their efficacy. Eggleston raises the issue of a possible confounding between age and lifetime cumulative pool attendance (CPA). However, because our study (Bernard et al. 2006) focused on children in 5th and 6th grades, there is little variation in age (range 10–13 years), explaining why age did not emerge as a predictor of the outcomes (Table 1) and also why it did not vary across CPA categories (analysis of variance, p = 0.35). Eggleston states that cases of asthma cannot be allocated to the CPA categories of our Figure 1, but this is because he has misinterpreted the way these categories were constructed. Subjects were not divided into quartiles but into predefined categories of increasing CPA. If numbers of subjects included in each category approximate those of quartiles, this is no more the case when each category is further divided according to the total serum IgE. The reason for this is given in Figure 3, which shows that the proportion of children with higher serum IgE gradually decreases as CPA increases. We agree with Eggleston that the exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) test is not a specific measure of airways inflammation in asthma. Rhinitis is a potential confounder that we took into account by adjusting the odds ratios (ORs) for the sensitization to aeroallergens, including house dust mites, the most frequent allergen in allergic rhinitis. We did not retain medication for asthma or allergy in the final analysis because of the strong collinearity of this factor with some outcomes, such as doctor-diagnosed asthma. However, adding medication to the list of possible predictors did not abolish the association between eNO and CPA (OR, 1.32; 95% confidence interval, 1.09–1.60). We also found no confounding by viral infections, which is not surprising because children seriously affected by a respiratory illness were absent from schools at the time of examination. We used objective measures whenever possible in our study (Bernard et al. 2006), but in order to derive predictors such as CPA, we had no choice but to use the information provided by parents and school directors (for compulsory pool attendance at school). We believe that the strong associations found in our study should not be dismissed as having arisen by bias or insufficient adjustment. However, what makes us increasingly confident in our observations is their reproducibility. The findings reported in our study (Bernard et al. 2006) confirm earlier observations (Bernard et al. 2003), and a new larger study on adolescents, just completed, again brings to light quite strong associations between different indicators of asthma and CPA, especially among atopic children (Bernard et al., unpublished data).

High Prevalence of Pneumonia in Children of a Smelter Town

Since German reunification in 1990, most heavy industries in Eastern Germany have been shut down. Although air quality has improved in terms of sulfur dioxide and particulate matter (PM), the content of certain metals in PM in industrial areas is persistently high. Lifetime pneumonia prevalence in schoolchildren born after unification in the heavy-metal industrial area Hettstedt remain elevated. One difference between low and high pneumonia-prevalence areas seems to be the residual concentrations of heavy metals in respirable air. Toxicological and human exposure studies of Hettstedt particles have shown metal-rich PM from Hettstedt to have greater toxicity and inflammatory properties than the PM of the control region. Past industrial emissions might still play a decisive role decades after the closing of sources, and pneumonia should be considered a possible acute health burden caused by metal-rich air pollution.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder among Nigerian primary school children Prevalence and co-morbid conditions

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of ADHD and co-morbid conditions in a sample of primary school children aged 7-12 years in Nigeria. A two-staged procedure in which primary school pupils aged 6-12 years (n = 1112) were assessed for DSM-IV criteria of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) by their teachers in the first stage and their parents in the second stage. A flexible criterion was used for estimating the prevalence. The prevalence of ADHD was 8.7%. The prevalence of the subtypes were: predominantly Inattentive 4.9%, predominantly hyperactive/impulsive 1.2% and combined 2.6%. The male to female ratio was 2:1 for all the subtypes of ADHD except hyperactive/impulsive which was 3.2:1. The co-morbid conditions include oppositional defiant disorder (ODD - 25.8%), conduct disorder (CD - 9.3%) and anxiety/depression (20.6%). While ODD and CD were associated with the hyperactive/impulsive subtype, anxiety/depression was associated with inattentive subtype. Our findings support the notion that ADHD occurs across cultures. Given the prevalent rate, efforts should be made to map out strategies for early identification and referral of these children for proper evaluation and treatment. This study can serve as a platform for future analytical studies about this challenging research issue in sub-Saharan Africa.

Long-term changes in air pollution and health implications in four Chinese cities

The rapid increase in energy consumption resulting from rapid economic growth in the past decade or so has produced high stress on China's urban air quality. A variety of approaches (e.g., the nationwide Blue Sky Program) directly or indirectly related to energy infrastructural and technology interventions have, consequently, been implemented to improve urban air quality. It is important to assess the effectiveness of these approaches in improving air quality and ultimately public health. In this paper, we use the data, collected as part of an epidemiological study of air pollution health effects, to examine long-term changes in air pollution levels and in respiratory morbidity prevalence in the four Chinese cities of Chongqing, Guangzhou, Lanzhou, and Wuhan. Over four urban and four suburban districts of the four cities, outdoor concentrations of total suspended particles (TSP) were reduced by 58 μg/m 3 or 16.5 % from the 1993-1994 level to the 1999-2000 level, those of sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ) were reduced by 42 μg/m 3 or 39 % from the 1993-1994 level to the 2002-2003 level, those of PM 10 were reduced by 32 μg/m 3 or 21 % from the 1995-1996 level to the 2002-2003 level, and those of oxides of nitrogen (NO x ) were reduced by 14 μg/m 3 or 17 % from the 1993-1994 level to the 1998-1999 level. These pollutant concentration changes were “translated” into morbidity prevalence changes, using the concentration-response relationships observed across the eight districts in the epidemiological study. Our estimates indicate that the overall reductions in TSP and PM 10 concentrations led to ~30 % and ~50 % reductions in school children's prevalence rates of persistent phlegm and bronchitis, respectively, and a ~30 % reduction infemale adults' prevalence rates of wheeze and persistent phlegm. In male adults, the TSP reduction generated the largest morbidity prevalence reductions, up to 50 % for bronchitis, among all the pollutants. The SO 2 reduction was only found to bring in prevalence reductions in adults for a few morbidity outcomes. When interpreting these results, however, an important caveat needs to be added, which is that our estimates of current prevalence rates used the average values of all confounding factors at the 1993-1996 levels. Changes in many of these confounding factors have expectedly occurred in the four cities, which may moderate or magnify health effects associated with changes in air pollution.

Knowledge of Autism Spectrum Disorders Among Connecticut School Speech—Language Pathologists

This study utilized a rating scale and random sampling of Connecticut school speech—language pathologists about their preprofessional education and current knoWledge of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The participants had a minimal amount of preprofessional academic or clinical preparation in ASD, and no differences Were found in hoW speech—language pathologists Were trained over the past 30 years. School speech—language pathologists reported relatively stronger knoWledge of the general behavioral and communication characteristics associated With ASD and less knoWledge of educational assessment and intervention formats. Given the prevalence of schoolchildren With ASD, speech—language pathology graduate programs need to enhance their preprofessional curricula to provide school-based speech—language pathologists With specific training to meet the communication needs presented by children With ASD.

Correlation between backpack weight and way of carrying, sagittal and frontal spinal curvatures, athletic activity, and dorsal and low back pain in schoolchildren and adolescents.

This cross-sectional study was carried out to investigate any correlation between backpack carrying, spinal curvatures, and athletic activities on schoolchildren's dorsal (DP) and low back pain (LBP). Three thousand four hundred forty-one students aged from 9 to 15 years who carried backpacks to school were included in this study and asked for DP and LBP experiences in the school period while carrying the backpack. Nonradiating methods (surface back contour analysis) were used to indirectly measure frontal spinal curve (scoliosis) with the scoliometer and lateral curves (thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis) with the kyphometer. All data analyses were undertaken regarding school year level, age, gender, sports participation, backpack weight, and way of carrying (one versus both shoulder) in relation to magnitude of scoliosis, thoracic kyphosis, lumbar lordosis, and DP and LBP while carrying the backpack. DP increased with increasing backpack weight (P < 0.05). The way (one versus both shoulder) of backpack carrying did not correlate either with DP or with LBP. Girls experienced much more LBP and DP than boys (P < 0.001). There was no difference in the prevalence of LBP and DP between adolescents and children. Students' age, height, and body weight as well as magnitude of kyphosis, lordosis, and scoliosis did not correlate with either LBP or DP. At the age of 11 years, girls and boys showed the highest prevalence for DP (72% and 38.5%, respectively), while at the age of 14 years, girls reported significantly (P < 0.05) more DP than boys. Girls showed the highest prevalence of LBP (71%) at the age of 11 years, while for the boys, it was at the age of 15 years (21%). Girls showed at the age of 11 years significantly more LBP (P < 0.05) than boys. Sports exposure seemed to increase LBP in girls (P < 0.001). The results of this study suggest a differential DP and LBP prevalence in schoolchildren and adolescents carrying backpacks with regard to gender and age. The peak in pain prevalence was immediately before puberty as well as immediately after its onset. Girls who participated in sports activities seem to experience more often DP and LBP than boys. Short children who carry backpacks as heavy as do tall children at the same age are more prone to LBP.

Estimating the number of helminthic infections in the Republic of Cameroon from data on infection prevalence in schoolchildren.

The prevalence of infection with helminths is markedly dependent on age, yet estimates of the total number of infections are typically based on data only from school-aged children. Such estimates, although useful for advocacy, provide inadequate information for planning control programmes and for quantifying the burden of disease. Using readily available data on the prevalence of infection in schoolchildren, the relation between the prevalence of infection in school-aged children and prevalence in the wider community can be adequately described using species-specific models. This paper explores the reliability of this approach to predict the prevalence infection in the community and provides a model for estimating the total number of people infected in the Republic of Cameroon. Using data on the prevalence of helminthic infection in school-aged children in Cameroon, the prevalence of infection in pre-school children and adults was estimated from species-specific linear and logistic regression models developed previously. The model predictions were then used to estimate the number of people infected in each district in each age group in Cameroon. For Cameroon, if only the prevalence of infection in schoolchildren is used, the number of people infected with each helminthic species will be overestimated by up to 32% when compared with the estimates provided by the species-specific models. The calculation of confidence intervals supports the statistical reliability of the model since a narrow range of parameter estimates is evident. Furthermore, this work suggests that estimation of national prevalence of infection and the number infected will be enhanced if data are stratified by age; this model represents a useful planning tool for obtaining more accurate estimates. Estimates based on data aggregated from three geographical levels (district, regional, and national) show that summarizing prevalence data at the national level will result in biases of up to 19%. Such biases reflect differences in the geographical distribution for the prevalence of each species. Developing more accurate estimates requires a better understanding of the differences in the spatial heterogeneity of each species and also better methods of incorporating this information when making estimates.

Time trend in height, weight, and obesity prevalence in school children from Northern France, 1992–2000

The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in height, weight and in the prevalence of overweight and obesity between 1992 and 2000 in children living in two towns of northern France. Two cross-sectional studies were performed in every pre-school (last section) and primary schools of the two towns in 1992 (383 girls and 421 boys enrolled) and 2000 (296 girls and 305 boys). Children were 5 to 12 year old in both studies. Body height and weight were measured, and BMI was calculated (weight/height(2)). Prevalence of overweight and obesity was determined according to the gender- and age- specific cut-offs of the new international reference (IOTF). We also used the 90(th) and the 97(th) percentiles of the French reference gender- and age-specific BMI curves to define two grades of overweight. After adjustment for age, boys were on average 1.5 cm taller in 2000 than in 1992 (p<0.001), and the same trend was observed in girls (+ 0.9 cm, p<0.075). Height-adjusted or age-adjusted weight and BMI were significantly higher in 2000 than in 1992. In girls, obesity defined by IOTF criteria increased from 1.6 to 4.4% (p<0.03) and overweight from 14.1 to 18.6% (p<0.11). In boys, the change in prevalences was significant only when the less stringent criteria (i.e. the 90(th) percentile of French references) was used (13.8% in 1992 vs 20% in 2000, p=0.03). Over an 8 years period, there was an increase in height and BMI in both boys and girls. These results show that the increase in the prevalence of obesity is accompanied by a global trend of accelerated growth.

Lung hyperpermeability and asthma prevalence in schoolchildren: unexpected associations with the attendance at indoor chlorinated swimming pools

Aims: To study whether exposure to nitrogen trichloride in indoor chlorinated pools may affect the respiratory epithelium of children and increase the risk of some lung diseases such as asthma....