Prevalence of Allergic Diseases and Risk Factors in Preschool Children

Abstract

Allergic diseases are very common in children. The aim of this study is to obtain information about the frequency and risk factors of allergic diseases in kindergarten children aged 3-6 years. This study was carried out between 13.02.2018 and 30.12.2018 in kindergartens, in accordance with the ISAAC Phase I protocol for children aged 3-6 years. The study was carried out by distributing 3000 questionnaires in 20 kindergartens. 2001 out of 2040 collected questionnaires were included in the study. Of the participants, 986 (49.3%) were female and 1015 (50.7%) were male. The frequency of asthma symptoms was 30.4% (n=608). The frequency of allergic rhinitis symptoms was found to be 37.1% (743 people). The risk of asthma symptoms was significantly higher in males, those whose mothers smoked during pregnancy, those born preterm, those with a smoker at home and those with mold in the home (p<0.05), The risk of allergic rhinitis symptoms was significantly higher in smokers and those with mold in the home (p<0.05 for both).The presence of smokers and mold were both risk factors for both allergic rhinitis and asthma symptoms. Awareness should be increased in families of high risk patients.

Keywords

• Asthma
• Allergic Rhinitis
• Children

References

1. 1. Mazur M, Czarnobilska M, Dyga W, Czarnobilska E. Trends in the epidemiology of allergic diseases of the airways in children growing up in an urban agglomeration. J Clin Med. 2022; 11(8):2188.
2. 2. Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA). Global Burden of Asthma Report. Available from: URL: http://www.globalasthmareport.org/. Accessed August 10, 2023.
3. 3. Canitez Y, Cekic Ş. Bursa bölgesinde alerjik astım tanılı çocuklarda ağaç polen alerjenlerine duyarlılık oranlarının araştırılması. J Curr Pediatr. 2021;19:67-75.
4. 4. Asher MI, García-Marcos L, Pearce NE, et al. Trends in worldwide asthma prevalence. Eur Respir J. 2020; 56:2002094.
5. 5. Türk Toraks Derneği Astım Tanı ve Tedavi Rehberi 2016. Available from: URL: https://www.chiesi.com.tr/img/download/documenti/934_ttd-astim-tani-ve-tedavi-rehberi-2016. Accessed August 10, 2023.
6. 6. Liva GA, Karatzanis AD, Prokopakis EP. Review of rhinitis: classification, types, pathophysiology. J Clin Med. 2021; 10(14):3183.
7. 7. Ozdemir Ö, Elmas B. Alerjik rinitin değişken prevalansı ve prevalansı etkileyen risk faktörleri. Kulak Burun Bogaz Ihtisas Dergisi. 2016; 26(6):371-82.
8. 8. Ones U, Akcay A, Tamay Z, Guler N, Dogru M. Asthma knowledge level of primarschool teachers in Istanbul, Turkey. Asian Pac J Allergy Immunol. 2006; 24(1):9-15.

9. 9. Akar HH, Çağ Y, Özkars MY, Yıldız M. Decreased annexin a2 (anxa2) levels in children with atopic dermatitis: A case-control study. Ann Clin Anal Med. 2021; 12(2):172-75.
10. 10. Asher MI, Keil U, Anderson HR, et al. International study of asthma and allergies in childhood (ISAAC): rationale and methods. Eur Respir J. 1995; 8(3):483-91.
11. 11. Topal E, Kaplan F, Türker K, Kutlutürk, Bağ HG. The prevalence of allergic diseases and associated risk factors in the 6-7 age children who are living in Malatya. Asthma Allergy Immunol. 2017; 15:129-34.
12. 12. Strannegard İL, Strannegård Ö. Childhood bronchial asthma in a desert country. Allergy. 1990; 45(5):327-33.
13. 13. Ellwood P, Asher MI, Beasley R, Clayton TO, Stewart AW; ISAAC Steering Committee. The international study of asthma and allergies in childhood (ISAAC): phase three rationale and methods. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2005; 9(1):10-16.
14. 14. Akcay A, Tamay Z, Dağdeviren E, Zencir M, Enes U, Güler N. Denizli’deki 6-7 yaş okul cocuklarında allerjik hastalıklarının prevalansları. Ege Tıp Dergisi. 2007; 46(3): 145-50.
15. 15. Chinratanapisit S, Suratannon N, Pacharn P, Sritipsukho P, Vichyanond P. Prevalence and risk factors of allergic rhinitis in children in Bangkok area. Asian Pac J Allergy Immunol. 2019; 37(4):232-39.
16. 16. Harju M, Keski-Nisula L, Georgiadis L, Heinonen S. Parental smoking and cessation during pregnancy and the risk of childhood asthma. BMC Public Health. 2016; 16:428.
17. 17. Turan Mİ, Ergüven M, Özdemir M. The evaluation of prenatal and enviromental risk factors in children with asthma, allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma Nobel Med. 2013; 9(2):32-37.
18. 18. Rusconi F, Zugna D, Annesi-Maesano I, et al. Mode of delivery andasthma at school age in 9 European birth cohorts. Am J Epidemiol. 2017; 185(6):465-73.
19. 19. Bager P, Melbye M, Rostgaard K, Benn CS, Westergaard T. Mode of delivery and risk of allergic rhinitis and asthma. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2003;111(1):51-6.
20. 20. Matheson MC, D Olhaberriague AL, Burgess JA, et al. Preterm birth and low birth weight continue to increase the risk of asthma from age 7 to 43. J Asthma. 2017; 54(6):616-23.
21. 21. Yeh KW, Ou LS, Yao TC, Chen LC, Lee WI, Huang JL; PATCH Study Group. Prevalence and risk factors for early presentation of asthma among preschoolchildren in Taiwan. Asian Pac J Allergy Immunol. 2011; 29(2):120-26.
22. 22. Pekkanen J, Remes S, Kajosaari M, et al. Infections in early childhood and risk of atopic disease. Acta Paediatrica. 1999;88(7):710-4.
23. 23. Alhammad AM, Alajmi G, Alenizi A, et al. Parental attitude and knowledge towards asthma care measures for their children in Saudi Arabia. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2020; 55(11):2901-907.
24. 24. Saulyte J, Regueira C, Montes-Martínez A, Khudyakov P, Takkouche B. Active or passive exposure to tobacco smoking and allergicr hinitis, allergic dermatitis and food allergy in adults and children: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PloS Med. 2014; 11(3):e1001611.
25. 25. Tarkan Ö, Sümerlioğlu Ö, Tuncer Ü. Alerjik rinitte güncel tanı ve tedavi yaklaşımları. Arşiv Kaynak Tarama Dergisi. 2009; 18(3):156-70.
26. 26. Civelek E, Cakir B, Orhan F, et al. Risk factors for current wheezing and its phenotypes among elementary school children. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2011; 46(2):166-74.
27. 27. Silva M, Traebert J, da Silva D, Traebert E. Prevalence of allergic rhinitis symptoms and associated factors in six-year-old children in a municipality in southern Brazil. Rev Bras Epidemiol. 2023; 26:e230024.