Associação entre condições meteorológicas de inverno e doenças respiratórias em crianças na cidade de Pelotas-RS

Abstract

Daily variations in weather and climate conditions have often affected the population health, since a simple malaise, to more severe disorders, which may lead to death. Respiratory diseases can be aggravated or even triggered by meteorological factors. The previous analysis of the seasonal or smaller scale behavior (intra-seasonal) of the weather parameters can help to anticipate some biological changes in human beings, for example, those that occur due to virus RSV and influenza responsible for respiratory infections. This study aims to analyze the weather conditions favorable to the respiratory diseases in children below nine years in the Pelotas city, in 2008-2013 and introduce a methodology for estimating the most critical periods these diseases. We used meteorological data from the conventional station of the Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia (INMET) and hospital admission data of children from the Hospital Universitário São Francisco de Paula (HUSFP), located in Pelotas city. The results showed that anomalous winters with strong cold and humid air masses in region set periods (days) favorable to the onset / worsening respiratory infections. It occurs three days after the entry of weather systems that cause high local values of moisture, low temperatures and a large change in the wind direction. This condition increases the possibility of hospitalization, according to other researchers, particularly on the most susceptible groups, such as children and the elderly.