Prevalence of asthma and allergic diseases in primary school children in Ankara, Turkey: Two cross-sectional studies, five years apart

The prevalence of allergic diseases is reported to have increased worldwide . Two questionnaire surveys, five years apart, were conducted to evaluate t he trend of prevalence rates and possible risk factors among primary school children in Ankara, Turkey. A previous survey in 1992 revealed the Lifetim e prevalences of asthma, wheezing, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis were 17.4%, 23.3%, 28% and 6.1%, and the prevalences for the last 12 months were 8.3%, 11.9%, 15.4% and 4%, respectively. The survey was repeated with the same questionnaire in the same age group (6-13 years) of the same scho ol in May 1997. The parents of 358 boys and 380 girls completed the questio nnaire. The lifetime and last 12 months' prevalences of asthma, wheezing, r hinitis and atopic dermatitis were 16.8%, 22.5%, 18.7%, 6.5%, and 9.8%, 13. 3%, 14.1%, 4.3%, respectively. There was a significant change only for the lifetime prevalence of rhinitis (p < 0.001). The rate of indoor smoking had declined from 73.9% to 64%, and pet ownership had risen from 7.9% to 22.9% (p < 0.001 for both). Atopic family history was the most prominent risk fa ctor for all types of allergic disorders. Male gender was a significant ris k factor for current asthma and wheezing [odds ratio (OR) = 1.80 and 1.59; 95% confidence intervals (CI) = 1.09-2.98 and 1.01-2.48, respectively], and passive smoking affected the occurrence of allergic rhinitis (OR = 1.84; C I = 1.13-3.00). The prevalence rates of allergic diseases among primary sch ool children in Ankara stabilized during a 5-year period for all diseases o ther than allergic rhinitis. However, there are changing behavior patterns, i.e. indoor smoking and keeping pet animals, which that may have affected these rates.