Prevalence of exercise-induced bronchospasm in schoolchildren: an urban-rural comparison.

To study the prevalence of exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB), 400 schoolchildren, aged 7-15 years, 200 each from urban and rural areas were administered a standard respiratory questionnaire, spirometry and exercise challenge. The study documented a higher prevalence of EIB in urban areas compared with rural area, 13 vs. 10 per cent. The family members of urban children had significant histories of asthma and allergy.