Upper airway obstruction in children under 5 years: prevalence, causes, consequences, comorbidities and their impact on Public Health

• Grant number: 10/16567-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): May 01, 2011
• Effective date (End): October 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Renata Cantisani Di Francesco
• Grantee: Vivian Boschesi Barros
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Upper airways obstruction in children may affect the acquisition of cognitive and psychomotor skills, weight and height growth, sleep breathing disorders, craniofacial development and is associated to a larger prevalence of upper airway infections in these children. Its onset results in poor quality of life for these children and their families, use of public resources and absence of school activities. It is necessary to elaborate new analysis in order to a better allocation of resources and more effective interventions.Objetctives: Determine the prevalence of upper airway obstruction in children under 5 in the west region of São Paulo, their risk factors and its social impact for the health system. The secondary objective is to develop a capacitation technique for the identification of upper airway obstruction for the Family Doctor Program. Material and Methods: Two hundred and three randomized children from each of the 3 basic health unity of the west region of São Paulo will be evaluated (Total 609). First, parents or caregivers will answer a questionnaire about upper airway obstruction symptoms, sleep disorders, upper airway infections, etc. All of the children will be submitted to physical examination: oroscopy, rinoscopy and otoscopy. The one with obstructive complains will be submitted to nasal endoscopy. The cost effectiveness analysis will be held through the retrospective analysis of their records: absence in school/ nursery, number of medical appointments, emergency room consultations, drugs taken during the last 12 months. Data from children with and without upper airway obstruction will be compared to each other.