[The effect of air pollution on the occurrence of respiratory tract diseases in children in Slovakia].

In 1986 and 1987 the authors investigated the incidence of diseases of the respiratory system in children in 13 areas with a contaminated atmosphere. The morbidity was compared with the incidence of diseases in children living in an area with a relatively clean living environment. In 1986 the group comprised 8,973 children, in 1987 9,409 children aged 7-14 years. The morbidity was recorded by health community paediatricians according to the International Classification of Diseases and evaluated by means of the annual incidence. The authors calculated also the mean period of illness of the airways. In 11 contaminated areas they found a significantly higher incidence of respiratory diseases (p less than 0.01) and higher mean duration of respiratory diseases, as compared with the control area.