The Prevalence of Respiratory Diseases among School Students in Rural Areas and Their Association with Immunological and Physiological Aspects

Abstract

Respiratory diseases are common health problems among school students, which affect students' health, activity, and learning abilities. These diseases are associated with physiological and immunological markers that affect respiratory efficiency and body's response to infection. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of respiratory diseases among primary school students, identify the most common diseases, and investigate the relationship between respiratory diseases and certain physiological and immunological factors. The cross-sectional study was conducted on 910 infected and non-infected students with respiratory diseases, aged 6–12 years. Physiological and immunological variables were estimated in serum using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), including zinc and vitamin D, interleukin-8 (IL-8), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), globulin A (IgA), globulin E (IgE), and procalcitonin, in addition to measuring body temperature and heart rate. The results indicated that infected students show elevated in WBC (10.8±2.5), neutrophil (65.9±8.1), IL-8 (54.4±6.3), TNF-α (63.2±3.9), IgA (87±9.7), IgE (144±12.4), and procalcitonin (3.48±98), while decreased in zinc (23.2±2.4), vitamin D (31±4.8), lymphocyte (28.1±5), RBC (10.8±2.5), and Hb (12.4±1.3) compared to non-infected students. Univariate binary logistic regression analysis showed that zinc (OR=0.766), WBC (OR=1.67), lymphocyte (OR=0.739), neutrophil (OR=1.439), IL-8(OR=1.674), and IgA (OR=6.38) were strongly associated with respiratory disease presence. These results confirm that respiratory diseases were a significant health problem among primary school students, and their prevalence is not only associated with pathogens but is also influenced by environmental, physiological, and immunological factors. These results showed decreased levels of zinc, vitamin D, and lymphocyte, while IL-8 and IgA were elevated in students infected with respiratory diseases.