Bolivia, Latin America

For the first time Bolivia is part of an international study of the magnitude of ISAAC Phase III. It was during the Latin American Congress of Pediatric Pulmonology in Central America, we received the invitation of Dr. Javier Mallol, International Coordinator of ISAAC Phase III for Latin American, and we gladly accepted the challenge.

Our intention was to have two teams, one team that covers the western Bolivia, La Paz, city over 3500 meters above sea level and eastern Bolivia, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, less than 400 m  (asl), geographical areas with different environmental as well as different feeding habits. We got in contact with the Society of Pediatric located in La Paz, the Andean region, to propose a study, but this could not be completed on time.

THE STATE OF BOLIVIA, in central South America. (In red), department of Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz is the largest recipient of migrants from other departments, currently has 1,678,849 inhabitants

'The city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra is located in the eastern part of Bolivia (17°45', South, 63°14', West) at 416m above sea level. It is part of the province of Andrés Ibáñez and the capital of the department of Santa Cruz' (from Wikipedia:Santa Cruz de la Sierra http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Cruz_de_la_Sierra#Geography

 BOLIVIA SANTA CRUZ

To finalize the project we asked for the cooperation and sponsorship of various institutions and the formation of a multidisciplinary team of professionals who are motivated only by their scientific interest.

Strictly fulfilling the criteria issued by ISAAC in the selection of schools and children from 13 to 14 years, we interviewed 3292 (three thousand two hundred ninety-two) students in 120 schools (one hundred twenty) of the city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra. After adapting the survey in Spanish to the used language and local customs, and completed the legal procedures we initiated the surveys.

• The question that apparently caused the most concern to the students Surveyed was about whether they had ever smoked. Most did not want to answer to the questionnaire until we assured them those responses would not be known either by their teachers nor by their parents.
• Among the key findings of the study was that many students reported having had wheezing without an asthma diagnosis and those who reported having or having had wheezing without an established diagnosis of asthma was about twice of those who were diagnosed.
• The study also showed that there was a significant association between rhinitis and asthma, which also was related to having adult smokers at home.

AGRADECIMIENTOS:

NUESTRO AGRADECIMIENTO A TODOS LOS COLEGAS QUE DIERON SU TIEMPO INCONDICIONAL PARA LLEVAR A CABO ESTE ESTUDIO, A TODAS LAS INSTITUCIONES QUE TRABAJARON COORDINADAMENTE CON NOSOTROS: COLEGIO MEDICO DEPARTAMENTAL –SANTA CRUZ, UNIVERSIDAD CRISTIANA DE BOLIVIA, SOCIEDAD BOLIVIANA DE PEDIATRIA, SECRETARIA DE EDUCACION–GOBERNACION SANTA CRUZ, A LOS PROFESORES Y ALUMNOS QUE APORTARON CON SUS DATOS, AL PROFESOR JAVIER MALLOL NUESTRO COORDINADOR INTERNACIONAL; EAMON ELLWOOD, PROFESOR INES ASHER STEERING COMMITTEE NUESTROS TUTORES DE AUCKLAND QUE NOS MANTUVIERON SIEMPRE INFORMADOS SOBRE TODOS LOS AVANCES Y PUBLICACIONES DEL ESTUDIO Y A NUESTRO CO AUSPICIADOR LABORATORIO GLAXO.