Abstract
Respiratory problems are the most common health problem in children of school age. As part of the child health monitoring programme the prevalence of respiratory problems during the past year and its effect on school attendance and medicine use were assessed in 5286 schoolchildren aged 4-15 years by questionnaire. The questionnaire was compiled out of the W.H.O. questionnaire on respiratory symptoms and a validated Dutch questionnaire.
Two or more respiratory symptoms were found in 6% of the boys and 4% of the girls. Children aged 4-6 years more often had two or more symptoms than children aged 10 years and older. No regional differences were detected. Of the children with two or more respiratory symptoms 42% didnot attend school for at least one period of five days during the past year and 59% used medication in the month prior to the study. So health education on early symptoms of respiratory problems might be important for children, parents and teachers in order to prevent unnecessary health problems and school non-attendance.
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Der Wekke, JV., Meulmeester, J. & Der Weide, YV. 298 RESPIRATORY SYMPTOMS IN SCHOOLCHILDREN IN THE NETHERLANDS. Pediatr Res 36, 52 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199407000-00298
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199407000-00298