Prevalence of asthma and allergic disorders among school children in Aydin province center

The aim of ISAAC phase 1 study is to identify the frequencies of asthma, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis in children and compare of these results between countries. This study prepared to identify the prevalence of allergic diseases and potential risk factors by using ISAAC phase 1 standard methods in children aged between 6-7 and 13-14.We assessed questionnaire results of 1472 first year and 1537 eighth year primary school students in this cross-sectional study.Ratios of life-time wheezing, wheezing in last 12 months and wheezing diagnosed by a physician were as follow: 30.8%, 19.3%, 17.1% (for children aged 6-7) and 21.1%, 13.1%,11.0%(for children aged 13-14) respectively. Severity of wheezing episodes depends on these conditions: having 4 or more episodes, and having at least one episode in a week which causes sleeping disorder or speaking restrictions. Ratios of these episodes were found as follow: 4.2%, 6%, 6.7% (for children aged 6-7) and 3.2%, 2.9% 6.8%(for children aged 13-14) respectively.Ratios of life-time common cold, common cold in last 12 months , rhino-conjunctivitis in last 12 months and allergic rhinitis diagnosed by a physician were as follow: 30.4%, 25.7%, 11.1% and 8.3%(for children aged 6-7) and 42.4%, 34.6%, 16.1% and 7.8%(for children aged 13-14) respectively. Frequency of daily life impairment (moderate-severe) was 12% in younger group and 13.4% in older group.Ratios of life-time chronic itchy lesion, itchy lesion in last 12 months and atopic dermatitis diagnosed by a physician were as follow: 9.6%, 7.8% and 2.9% (for children aged 6-7) and 12%, 7.4% and 2.8%(for children aged 13-14) respectively. Ratio of itchy lesion which is healed in last 12 months were 5% in younger children group and ratio of having sleeping disorder (at least one time in a week) due to itching was 0.5%. These ratios were 4.6% and 1.4% in older group respectively.Associated risk factor of these three diseases was having an allergic disease in family history.Aggravating factors of allergic diseases in children aged 6-7 were as follow: for asthma; living in a humid home, for allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis; living in a squatter house or smoker?s home. Diminishing factors for allergic rhinitis were found as having a mid-range economical status and for atopic dermatitis having a mother graduated from primary school.Aggravating factors of allergic rhinitis in children aged 13-14 were found as living in a humid home, and having a father graduated from a high school or university. Diminishing factors for atopic dermatitis were found as male gender and having mid-ranged economical status.Relationship between wheezing, rhinitis and itching in last 12 months was statically significant.Possibility of life-time wheezing, itching and rhinitis togetherness were 2.85% in children group aged 6-7; and 3.9% in children group aged 13-14.Prevalence of allergic diseases was found higher than other sides of Turkey when compared with other reported epidemiological studies. Also in our study genetic tendency and togetherness of allergic diseases had a high ratio. This study represents a background for preventions for allergic diseases in Aydin and a step for future studies which will intent to find possible etiological factors.