Determination of prevalence and risk factors of childhood asthma, eczema and allergic rhinitis in zonguldak province and evaluation of the change over the years

Introduction: Asthma, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis are the most common chronic, allergic diseases in childhood. This condition causes high health expenses, missing days for school and work. The etiology of allergic diseases has not been identified yet completely. It is accepted that they are comprise of the affect of environmental factors on the genetical bases. The prevelance of allergic diseases in the developed western countries had been reached to a plato. But incidence has been increasing in developing countries for years. These factors causing the increase are increased exposure to the allergens and enviromental factors, possible modern diagnostic procedures and awareness of doctors and families about allergic diseases. With this study we aim to obtain allergic diseases prevalance and risk factors in Zonguldak by using ''International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood'' (ISAAC) survey and to compare the results with the 2002 research of prevelance of asthma in Zonguldak. Materials and Methods: This study was implemented in the Zonguldak city center and districts, between the 6-14 age of children, in the year of 2018. Including student's population determined via estimating the city centre and the surrounding's population. And schools determined by loting. Translated ISAAC questionnaire was used. This questionnaire filled by the families whose children were under 12 age and by the children themselves who were bigger than 12 years. SPSS 14.0 have been used statistical analyses. Definer Qualitative variances were showed with frequency and percent, constant variances are showed with medium, standart deviation, median, minimum and maximum values. Chi-Square test was used for non-parametric tests. For measuring averages; Student-T test and non-parametrical Man-Whitney-U test were used. For the transverse assesments Mann Whitney-U, Kruskall-Wallis test, and corelation analysis were used. Under 0.05 values were accepted as significant in whole statistical analogy. Findings: 2000 students have completed this survey. 1104 (55,2%) of them were girls and 896 (44,8%) were boys. Their avarage age was 9,97±2,18 (between 6-14 age, median age: 10) year. The prevelence of whezing in any time was 16,8% (n=335) and 7,9% (n=158) in the last 12 months. Doctor diagnosed asthma prevelance was 10% (n=199). The prevelance of AR symptoms in any time was 47,4% (n=947), the prevelance patients who have AR symptoms in the last 12 months was 40,4% (n=807). Doctor diagnosed AR prevelance was determined as 11% (n=220). The prevelance of AD symptom in any time was 6,2% (n=124), the prevelance patients who have AD symptoms in the last 12 months was 4,7% (n=93). And the doctor diagnosed AD prevelance was 5,8% (n=115). 4% of asthma patients also have both AD and AR diagnoses. And 27,6 % of doctor diagnosed asthma patients have also AR. Risk factors for the hospitalization was family history of asthma and AR. It is also pointed out that family allergic history was the most significant risk factor. Result and discussion: This study had put forth as doctor diagnosed asthma was 10%, AR 11% and AD was 5,8%. We have seen that the prevalence of doctor diagnosed asthma increased 10% from 4,9%, in 15 years. The percentage of wheezing in any time increased from 15,5% to 16,8%. And the rate of wheezing in the last 12 months decreased from 11,2% to 7,9%. AR symptoms which has been observed in any time period increased from 37,7% to 47,4%, And the chronic pruritic lesion prevelance reduced from 13,2% to 6,2%. During the recents years the prevelance of asthma and allergic diseases are especially increased in childhood. Allergic diseases are also gradually increasing in our region. This study supported this result. But the reasons of this increase and the difference in prevalence between the regions of the same city couldn't have been identified exactly, this is the weak point of our study. But we can assume the causes of this rise are probably environmental pollution (inside home and outside air pollution), food preservatives and colour ingredients, GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) foods.