[Reality of respiratory symptoms in preschool-age children -result of a parental questionnaire-].

BACKGROUND

In Japan, incidence of respiratory symptoms in pre-school children is still unclear.

OBJECTIVE

A nationwide mail questionnaire survey on respiratory symptoms including symptom prevalence was conducted among mothers who had preschool-age children.

RESULTS

Number of questionnaires sent was 1375, and valid responses was 1168 (valid response rate; 84.9%). In the last 12 months, 94.8% of children had runny nose and nasal congestion, followed by nonproductive cough (73.7%), wet cough (64.3%), and wheezing (19.2%). When classified according to age group, 56.1% of under 1-year-old infants had nonproductive cough, 40.4% had wet cough, 12.1% had wheezing, 84.3% had runny nose and nasal congestion, and 1- to 2-year-olds had an increased rate for all of these symptoms. The consultation rate for respiratory symptoms at the medical institution was as high as 91.9% in the children with nonproductive cough, and 94.0% with wheezing. Each respiratory symptom tends to decrease most in August and increase through the period of December to March. Peak times of symptom exacerbation were "just after falling asleep at night" for nonproductive cough and wet cough, "midnight" for wheezing, and "daytime" for runny nose and nasal congestion. Also, it was confirmed that the largest number of children have problems sleeping, and that most mothers also have problems sleeping due to having to take care of their child.

CONCLUSION

This survey revealed the reality of respiratory symptoms of preschool-age children. The results suggest that respiratory symptoms are prevalent in children, and many of them have seasonal change and nocturnal exacerbation of symptoms.