THE PREVALENCE OF ALLERGIC DISEASES IN PRIMARY-SCHOOL CHILDREN IN EDIRNE, TURKEY

Background Allergic diseases present a major health burden for childre n as shown by the rising morbidity and increased mortality from asthma . Information on the prevalences of allergic disorders and contributin g factors as well will help to establish feasible measures to change t his trend, and more efficient assignment of the limited health resourc es. Objective To assess the prevalences of asthma and other allergic d iseases and the contribution of various risk factors in primary school children in Edirne, Turkey. Methods Children aged 7 to 12 in primary schools in the municipality and 24 villages of Edirne were surveyed vi a a questionnaire completed by the parents, The cumulative (lifetime) and current (last 12 months) prevalences of allergic diseases and the presence of passive smoking, atopic family history, animal contact and breast-feeding in infancy were determined. Results A total of 5412 ch ildren (70.1% from the metropolitan and 29.9% from the rural area) wer e enrolled, The cumulative and current prevalences of all allergic dis eases were 24.6% and 9.9% respectively. The cumulative (lifetime) prev alences of bronchial asthma, wheezing, allergic rhinitis and atopic de rmatitis were 16.4%, 18.9%, 12.3% and 2.2%, and the current (last 12 m onths) prevalences were 5.6%, 5.8%, 4.5% and 0.9% respectively. Three- fourths of the children were exposed to tobacco smoke at home. Atopic heredity appeared the most prominent risk factor for any allergic diso rder. Neither age, breast-feeding nor place of habitation affected the occurrence of allergic disorders. Animal contact was a significant ri sk factor for asthma and wheezing (adjusted odd ratios (OR) and 95% co nfidence intervals (CI) for current prevalences are 1.38 (CI = 1.04-1. 83) and 1.35 (CI = 1.02-1.78) respectively), exposure to indoor tobacc o smoke for wheezing (OR = 1.52, CI = 1.10-2.09), and male gender for asthma (OR = 1.50, CI = 1.16-1.93). Current prevalences for all allerg ic diseases were significantly lower than those previously reported in Ankara, Turkey. Conclusions Allergic diseases are a major health burd en for primary school children in Edirne, Turkey. Although atopic here dity appears to be the foremost important risk factor, reduction of ex posure to indoor tobacco smoke and animal contact, especially or those with atopic family history, are important preventive measures. The im pact of environmental exposures on distinguishing prevalences of aller gic diseases in Ankara and Edirne should be further investigated.