Prevalence of bronchial asthma in Gaziantep

SUMMARY THE PREVALENCE OF BRONCHIAL ASTHMA IN GAZİANTEP Asthma is a widespread chronic disorder and different figures regarding the prevalence of bronchial asthma have been reported in various parts of the world. Recently increasing asthma prevalence have been noted in all age groups and especially in childhood. In this study; it was aimed to investigate the prevalence of bronchial asthma in Gaziantep. Based on a questionary study performed in our clinic recently, 258 persons who are identified as "potential asthma" are considered in this study. These persons were physical examined. Their chest and sinus radiograms were obtained. Then, pulmonary function tests, provocation and scinprick tests were performed. Total IgE levels were measured. As a result; the prevalence of bronchial asthma in Gaziantep was found as 2.1% (2.7% of female, 1.5% of male). Two peaks were observed in asthma prevalence. One of them was observed in 19-50 age group in female (4.8%) and the other peak was in older than fifty years old man (10%). Although the increasing prevalence rates in childhood have been reported in many countries, an important prevalence rate was not found in children group in ourdata(1.2%). Among those diagnosed asthmatic patients; the prevalence of self reported asthma was found to be 26.6%. 46.7 % of patients had atopy and 16.6% had a family history of asthma. Positif reactivity of scin prick test, presence of atopy and familial atopy were significantly higher in asthmatic patients but there wasn't any difference on the levels of Total IgE. 71