Respiratory disease amongst Aborigines in the Pilbara

Aboriginal communities have a high prevalence of upper and lower respiratory tract disease. One thousand two hundred and eighty seven West Australian Aborigines and 265 non-Aborigines were examined. Twenty nine per cent of Aborigines had lower respiratory tract abnormalities. Amongst 635 Aboriginal children less than 15 years of age, 23% had lower respiratory tract signs--four times the prevalence in 174 non-Aborigines. Twenty six per cent of Aborigines under 10 years of age had signs of otitis media, compared to 3% amongst non-Aborigines. Two hundred and thirty eight (53%) of Aboriginal children less than 10 years of age had nasal discharge, compared to 1.6% of the non-Aboriginal children.