Limited data are available on prevalence and associated risk factors for atopy and allergic diseases from high-altitude urban settings in Latin America. To estimate the prevalence of atopy, asthma, rhinitis, and eczema, and associations with relevant risk factors in preschool children in the Andean city of Cuenca. A cross-sectional study was undertaken using a representative sample of 535 children aged 3–5 years attending 30 nursery schools in the city of Cuenca, Ecuador. Data on allergic diseases and risk factors were collected by parental questionnaire. Atopy was measured by skin prick test (SPT) reactivity to a panel of relevant aeroallergens. Associations between risk factors and the prevalence of atopy and allergic diseases were estimated using multivariable logistic regression. Asthma symptoms were reported for 18% of children, rhinitis for 48%, and eczema for 28%, while SPT reactivity was present in 33%. Population fractions of asthma, rhinitis, and eczema attributable to SPT were 3.4%, 7.9%, and 2.9%, respectively. In multivariable models, an increased risk of asthma was observed among children with a maternal history of rhinitis (OR 1.85); rhinitis was significantly increased in children of high compared to low socioeconomic level (OR 2.09), among children with a maternal history of rhinitis (OR 2.29) or paternal history of eczema (OR 2.07), but reduced among children attending daycare (OR 0.64); eczema was associated with a paternal history of eczema (OR 3.73), and SPT was associated with having a dog inside the house (OR 1.67). A high prevalence of asthma, rhinitis, and eczema symptoms were observed among preschool children in a high-altitude Andean setting. Despite a high prevalence of atopy, only a small fraction of symptoms was associated with atopy. Parental history of allergic diseases was the most consistent risk factor for symptoms in preschool children.

Con el objetivo de describir las tasas de incidencia por cada 100 000 habitantes de los casos de enfermedades transmitidas por alimentos (ETA) durante el periodo 2015-2020 en Ecuador se realizó un análisis secundario de los registros de vigilancia epidemiológica y de las proyecciones poblacionales del Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos. Se reportaron 113 695 casos con una incidencia superior a los 100 casos por cada 100 000 habitantes (2015-2019). En el 2020 los registros son considerablemente inferiores a los reportes de años anteriores. La mayoría de los casos se reportaron como «otras intoxicaciones alimentarias». Las tasas de incidencia de ETA más altas se observaron en la región amazónica. En general existe una marcada variabilidad anual en la incidencia de las ETA según las regiones geográficas del Ecuador. En conclusión, las ETA representan un problema de salud pública en el Ecuador. Se deben diseñar estrategias preventivas integrales con especial énfasis en la región amazónica.

Asthma symptoms can be controlled through proper self-management, medication adherence, and avoidance of triggers, thus avoiding high costs for multiple hospitalizations, emergency or outpatient visits. This article seeks to develop a conceptual framework of the factors that influence asthma self-management in a pediatric population living in the Andean urban area of Cuenca-Ecuador. A phenomenological study was carried out (February-April 2021) in 10 children and adolescents from 7 to 17 years old with asthma attending public and private hospitals. In-depth interviews were applied using open questions created after reviewing the literature. Factors influencing asthma self-management include individual (attitudes, self-education, seeking medical attention, managing crisis triggers) and environmental (health system, school/family support). The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed by two independent researchers. Our results show that the pediatric population identifies individual and environmental influences that affect asthma self-management, with age and socioeconomic status moderating the influential factors. The participants described the beliefs, attitudes, practices, perceptions, and specific experiences in the family, school, and health system contexts as relevant to comply with asthma self-management. In addition, problems or barriers that hinder the self-management of the disease, mainly related to adherence to treatment, were identified. In conclusion, our analysis highlights the need to empower the pediatric population in asthma self-management. When delivering patient-centered education for effective asthma management, future interventions must consider children´s age and socioeconomic status influences in individual and environmental factors.

Objetivo: Establecer la prevalencia de sensibilización a epitelio de perro y gato en una población pediátrica de 3 a 6 años. Métodos: Estudio de prevalencia, descriptivo y transversal, como parte del estudio Prevalence and risk factors for asthma, rhinitis, eczema, and atopy among preschool children in an Andean city. La población estudio fueron niños de la ciudad de Cuenca, Ecuador, a quienes se les aplicó la encuesta ISAAC, validada culturalmente, y se les realizaron pruebas cutáneas a inhalantes. Resultados: Se registraron 600 niños, con una prevalencia de atopia de 33.45% (n = 179), sensibilización al epitelio de perro del 1.76% (n = 10) y al epitelio de gato del 2.12% (n = 12), lo que representó un 5.59% y 6.70% en la población atópica, respectivamente. Conclusión: La prevalencia de sensibilización al epitelio de gato y perro en niños menores de 6 años es menor de lo que se espera en el escenario clínico. En estudios futuros debe estimarse la muestra en relación con la prevalencia de sensibilización al epitelio de gato y perro. Palabras clave: Prevalencia; Epitelio de gato y perro; Pacientes pediátricos; Ecuador; Atopia.