Erling V, Jalil F, Hanson L A, Zaman S
Department of Clinical Immunology, Göteborg University, Sweden.
J Public Health Med. 1999 Sep;21(3):331-9. doi: 10.1093/pubmed/21.3.331.
Respiratory tract infections are a major health problem in developing countries. The aim of this study was to analyse the impact of the climate on the prevalence of upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) and lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) in four socioeconomically different groups in a developing country.
A prospective cohort study was conducted among children in four socioeconomically different groups in Lahore, Pakistan. Monthly observations were made on 1476 infants born during 1984-1987 and followed for 24 months. Prevalence of URTI and LRTI was analysed according to age, area of living, family size, time of birth, the season of the year and climate variables such as rain, temperature and humidity.
Low monthly average minimum day temperature was associated with high prevalence of URTI and LRTI. For LRTI the impact of temperature was larger for boys, children living in larger families and children living in the poorer areas. This pattern was not seen for URTI. A peak in prevalence for LRTI was shown at 5-6 months of age for LRTI and at 10-12 months of age for URTI.
Temperature is related to prevalence of URTI and LRTI in a developing society. The effect of temperature on health varies between different subgroups. These effects should be considered in planning health actions to prevent respiratory tract infections.
呼吸道感染是发展中国家的一个主要健康问题。本研究的目的是分析气候对一个发展中国家四个社会经济状况不同群体的上呼吸道感染（URTI）和下呼吸道感染（LRTI）患病率的影响。
在巴基斯坦拉合尔四个社会经济状况不同的群体中的儿童中进行了一项前瞻性队列研究。对1984年至1987年期间出生的1476名婴儿进行每月观察，并随访24个月。根据年龄、居住地区、家庭规模、出生时间、一年中的季节以及降雨、温度和湿度等气候变量分析URTI和LRTI的患病率。
每月平均最低日温度较低与URTI和LRTI的高患病率相关。对于LRTI，温度对男孩、生活在大家庭中的儿童以及生活在较贫困地区的儿童的影响更大。URTI未出现这种模式。LRTI的患病率在5至6个月龄时出现高峰，URTI在10至12个月龄时出现高峰。
在一个发展中社会，温度与URTI和LRTI的患病率相关。温度对健康的影响在不同亚组之间有所不同。在规划预防呼吸道感染的健康行动时应考虑这些影响。
