The aim of the study was to explore the prevalence of the objective markers of asthma in schoolchildren in Georgia.

All 10-12 years old children (n=1036) from 9 schools in Tbilisi were interrogated by an internationally carefully standardized questionnaire of ISAAC Phase II. A complete data set, including results of total and specific IgE, skin prick-tests and bronchial provocation test (4.5% NaCl), was available for 174 including 74 with wheeze and 120 without wheeze during the last 12 months.

The ISAAC Phase II questionnaire revealed two-fold increase of the prevalence rate (8.8%) of the symptom of current wheezing during the last 12 months since 1995. 66% of wheezers revealed bronchial hyperreactivity - BH (P-0,000), 35,2% - had positive specific IgE, 37.0% - at least one prick test positive and 57, 4% - total IgE >100 kU/l compared to non-wheezers (correspondingly BH −31,6%, positive specific IgE-30,0%, at least one prick test positive −33,3% and elevated total IgE −51,7%). The prevalence of BH was higher in girls - 72,7%, than boys - 61,3%. BH was positive in 30,2% of girls and 33,3% of boys, who responded in questionnaires as non-wheezers.

BH is strongly associated with wheezing during the last 12 months (odds ratio 4.2; 95% CI 2.1 to 8.4; P-0.000).