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Bronchial asthma and wheeze in a desert country
A Bener1, T Q al-Jawadi, F Ozkaragoz
1Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, U.A.E., Al Ain.
Insights
Pet ownership in Saudi Arabia was linked to increased respiratory issues in children. Children with pets showed higher rates of asthma, allergic rhinitis, wheeze, and eczema compared to those without pets.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
- Environmental Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Respiratory allergies and conditions like asthma, allergic rhinitis, wheeze, and eczema are significant health concerns in school-aged populations.
- Understanding environmental factors, such as pet ownership, is crucial for identifying potential triggers and risk factors for these conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between asthma, allergic rhinitis, wheeze, and eczema among school children in Saudi Arabia.
- To examine the relationship between pet ownership and the prevalence of respiratory allergies in this population.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional, population-based study involving 3300 Saudi school children aged 7-12 years.
- Detailed data collection on respiratory symptoms (wheeze, asthma, chronic cough) and allergic conditions (allergic rhinitis, eczema) in children and their parents.
- Statistical analysis, including odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI), to assess associations.
Main Results:
- High prevalence rates were observed: diagnosed asthma (6.8%), wheeze history (10.5%), allergic rhinitis (17.9%), and eczema (10.8%).
- Allergic rhinitis was the most frequent respiratory illness.
- Pet ownership was associated with significantly increased odds of asthma (OR: 2.4), chronic cough (OR: 3.9), chronic wheeze (OR: 4.2), allergic rhinitis (OR: 8.0), and eczema (OR: 2.8).
Conclusions:
- Pet ownership is significantly associated with an increased prevalence of respiratory symptoms and allergic conditions in Saudi school children.
- The findings suggest that exposure to pets may be a contributing factor to the development or exacerbation of respiratory allergies in children.
- Further research is warranted to explore the mechanisms underlying this association and to inform public health strategies.
Abstract:
A cross-sectional, population-based study was conducted among school children (3300), aged 7-12 years, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, during the period January, 1988-February, 1990. The aim of the study was to investigate the association between asthma, allergic rhinitis, wheeze and eczema among Saudi school children. The relationship between pet-ownership and respiratory allergy was also studied. Detailed information was collected about wheeze and asthma in 3041 children and history of asthma and allergic rhinitis in their parents. The population sample had a high prevalence rate of diagnosed asthma (6.8%), history of wheeze (10.5%), allergic rhinitis (17.9%), and eczema (10.8%). Allergic rhinitis was the most frequently seen respiratory illness when compared to other respiratory symptoms. The prevalence rate of asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema among parents reflected the same pattern as that seen in the children. Prevalence rate for asthma in children with pets is twice that of children without pets (OR: 2.4; 95%, Cl: 1.8-3.1). The odds of having chronic cough (OR: 3.9; 95% Cl: 2.8-5.2), chronic wheeze (OR: 4.2; 95%, 3.3-5.4), allergic rhinitis (OR: 8.0; 95% Cl: 6.3-10.3) and eczema (OR: 2.8: 95 Cl: 2.1-3.7) was higher in children with pets than in children without pets. The present study revealed that pet-ownership was associated with increased respiratory symptoms.