OBJECTIVE:
to analyze the association between asthma diagnosis and body mass index (BMI) in children and adolescents with and without sorological markers of toxocariasis.
METHODS:
this is a cross-sectional study based on the review of medical records of individuals aged 2-14 years of age, covering the period 1996-1998 and assessed for toxocariasis infection at the Jardim Santa Monica Primary Health Unit in Campinas-SP. Wilcoxon's test was used to study associations between the presence of toxocariasis, asthma and BMI.
RESULTS:
out of 116 eligible records, 37.9% had asthma and 54.3% had toxocariasis. Those having both asthma and toxocariasis had higher z scores for EMI distribution (p = 0.04). Association was not found in those having asthma but not toxocariasis (p = 0.17).
CONCLUSION:
association was found between asthma and increased BMI in children and adolescents with toxocariasis, but not in those who did not have toxocariasis.
Asthma; Body Mass Index; Toxocariasis; Cross-Sectional Studies
