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Extent and burden of allergic diseases in elementary schoolchildren: a national multicenter study

E Civelek1, B Cakir, A B Boz

  • 1Hacettepe University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatric Allergy and Asthma, Ankara, Turkey.

Journal of Investigational Allergology & Clinical Immunology
|September 7, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Approximately one-third of Turkish schoolchildren experience allergic disease symptoms annually. This study highlights regional variations and diagnostic challenges in childhood allergies, emphasizing the need for objective data collection.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Limited standardized data on childhood allergic diseases in Turkey necessitates multicenter studies.
  • Objective tools are crucial to enhance the validity and reliability of allergy research in schoolchildren.
  • Previous research highlights the need for better diagnostic and treatment strategies for pediatric allergic conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of allergic diseases among elementary schoolchildren in Turkey.
  • To investigate regional variations in allergic disease symptoms and objective signs.
  • To assess the impact of allergic diseases on school absenteeism.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Children (ISAAC) Phase II tools for data collection.
  • Surveyed 6963 children aged 9-11 years across 5 major Turkish cities.
  • Employed parental reports and objective diagnostic tools to assess allergic conditions.

Main Results:

  • 35% of surveyed children reported at least one allergic disease symptom in the past year.
  • Prevalence rates: wheezing (15.8%), rhinoconjunctivitis (23.5%), eczema (8.1%), atopy (18.9%), flexural dermatitis (3.6%), bronchial hyperreactivity (24.2%).
  • Significant interregional variations in symptom and objective sign prevalence were observed; 34.2% of children with asthma/allergic rhinitis experienced school absence.

Conclusions:

  • About one-third of Turkish elementary schoolchildren exhibit symptoms consistent with allergic diseases.
  • Interregional disparities in allergic disease prevalence may be linked to environmental factors.
  • Challenges persist in the timely and accurate diagnosis and management of allergic diseases in children.
Abstract

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