Allergol Immunopathol (Madr). 2011;39(5):284---290 www.elsevier.es/ai ORIGINAL ARTICLE Prevalence of asthma and allergies in 13- to 14-year-old adolescents and the frequency of risk factors in carriers of current asthma in Taubaté, São Paulo, Brazil M.F. Toledo a,* , T. Rozov b , C. Leone c a Professor of Pediatrics, Department of Medicine (Docente da Disciplina de Pediatria do Departamento de Medicina da Universidade de Taubaté) University of Taubaté, UNITAU,Taubaté-SP, Brazil, Master of Science, Pediatrics Department, School of Medicine (Mestre em Ciências pelo Departamento de Pediatria da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo), USP, São Paulo, Brazil b Professor of Pulmonary Rehabilitation Center, Federal University of São Paulo, UNIFESP, São Paulo, Brazil c Full Professor, Department of Maternal-Infant Health, School of Public Health (Professor Titular do Departamento de Saúde Materno-Infantil da Faculdade de Saúde Pública), São Paulo, Brazil Received 27 June 2010; accepted 23 September 2010 Available online 14 January 2011 KEYWORDS Asthma; Allergies; Risk factors; Adolescents; ISAAC Abstract Background: The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of asthma and allergies in 13- to 14-year-old adolescents in the city of Taubaté, São Paulo, Brazil using the INTERNATIONAL STUDY OF ASTHMA AND ALLERGIES IN CHILDHOOD (ISAAC) questionnaire and to describe the presence of risk factors in current asthma carriers. Methods: We used a cross-sectional study involving 920 adolescents who completed the ISAAC questionnaire and answered additional questions regarding smoking and the presence of pets and/or insects at home. Results: The mean prevalence rate of ‘‘current asthma’’ was 15.3% and ‘‘asthma ever’’ was 6.8%. The mean prevalence rate of ‘‘current rhinitis’’ was 36.6% and ‘‘rhinitis ever’’ 37.6%. The prevalence of ‘‘eczema ever’’ was 16.2%. The frequency of active smoking was low (0.7%), and the presence of indoor animals (34%) and of insects (55.1%) was high. Conclusions: The prevalence of ‘‘current asthma’’ was twice as high as that of ‘‘asthma ever’’. There was no association between risk factors studied and current asthma. © 2010 SEICAP. Published by Elsevier España, S.L. All rights reserved. * Corresponding author. E-mail address: maristellatol@ig.com.br (M.F. Toledo). Introduction Allergic asthma, rhinitis, and atopic eczema are among the commonest causes of chronic ill health in the world. Asthma 0301-0546/$ – see front matter © 2010 SEICAP. Published by Elsevier España, S.L. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.aller.2010.09.004 Documento descargado de http://www.elsevier.es el 25/07/2016. Copia para uso personal, se prohíbe la transmisión de este documento por cualquier medio o formato.