Assessment of the relationship between asthma and allergic diseases and air pollution in school-age children

The study was planned as a cross-sectional-relationship research type to evaluate the relationship between asthma and allergic diseases and air pollution in school-age children. The population of the study, which was carried out between November and December 2022 in 6 secondary schools affiliated with the Ministry of Education in Soma district of Manisa province, consisted of 678 students studying in these secondary schools. The sample of the study was calculated with the known sampling formula and was found to be 152. However, considering the data loss that may arise from the participant age group, all 7th and 8th grade students in the selected schools within the 13-14 age group were included in the study and the study was carried out with 603 students. Data were collected with the "Descriptive Characteristics Survey Form", "International Childhood Asthma and Allergy Study Data Collection Form" and "Adolescent Lifestyle Scale-Nutrition Sub-Dimension" and analyzed using the IBM SPSS 21 program. It was found that 88.4% of the students participating in the research studied in schools located in urban areas, 51.2% smoked at home, 31.2% heated with a stove, and 11.6% had a known history of disease. It was found that 23.6% of students studying in urban areas had lifelong wheezing, 51.6% had lifelong nasal symptoms, and 11.3% had lifelong eczema. Between lifelong wheezing and having mold in the house in the last 12 months. A significant relationship was found (p<0.05). A statistically significant relationship was found between lifelong nasal symptoms and studying in a rural area, living in a house with a stove, and having plants in the child's room (p<0.05). A statistically significant relationship was found between lifelong eczema and studying in a rural area and living in a house with a stove (p<0.05). Known disease status in the child was found to be significant for asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema (p<0.05). As a result, in the multiple regression analysis, a statistically significant relationship was found between asthma and house mold, between rhinitis and the nutrition sub-dimension, between eczema and a family history of allergic disease, and between all three and the child's disease history (p<0.05). It is recommended to conduct risk screening programs and provide education to families.