PREVALENCE OF ALLERGIC DISEASES AND INFLUENCING FACTORS IN PRIMARY-SCHOOL CHILDREN IN THE ANKARA REGION OF TURKEY

We have studied the prevalence of atopic disease, by questionnaire, in 3024 primary-school children from three different socioeconomic level s in Ankara. Physical examinations were also performed on these childr en. The cumulative prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinitis, allergic c onjunctivitis, and atopic eczema was 6.9%, 11.7%, 4.6%, and 2.6%, resp ectively. Allergic rhinitis was more common in children older than 10 years. Most of the symptoms of asthmatic patients began in the first 3 years of life. The cumulative prevalence of allergic diseases was 23. 4%. This study has estimated the prevalence of allergic diseases, incl uding asthma, allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, and allergic dermatitis, in the Ankara region of Turkey.