The prevalence of asthma and allergy among university freshmen in Eskisehir, Turkey

The aim of this study was to determine the current and cumulative prevalenc e of asthma, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis and reactivities to aller gen skin prick tests (SPT) among university freshmen. The data at the first stage were collated through the application of the Eu ropean Community Respiratory Health Survey (-ECRHS- Stage I) questionnaire on 1603 students registering at various faculties and vocational colleges o f Osmangazi University in Eskisehir, Turkey, in the academic year 1997-1998 . At the second stage a physical examination as well as allergen SPTs were conducted on 151 students. Of the students within the study group, six (0.4%) had experienced an asthm a attack within the previous 12 months, 11 (0.7%) had a past of asthma atta cks and 123 (8.1%) reported wheezing attacks within the previous 12 months. The prevalence of asthma-like symptoms, rhinoconjunctivitis and dermatitis were found to be 17.0%, 10.0% and 5.9% respectively. Asthma and asthma-lik e symptoms were found to be significantly more prevalent among students who smoked. A positive SPT reaction to more than one allergen was found in 14. 6% of the students. SPT positivity was 8.3% in asymptomatic students, 27.3% in asthmatic students, 14.5% in those with asthma-like symptoms, 28% in th ose with non-infectious rhinitis and 7.1% in those with dermatitis. In anal ysis of logistic regression, a history of atopy, as ascertained in the ques tionnaire, was seen to have a significant effect on SPT positivity. The rate of self-reported asthma and/or asthma-like symptoms among newly en rolled freshmen at the Osmangazi University was found to be lower than in o ther countries. Cigarette smoking was seen to increase such symptoms signif icantly, in comparison to non-smokers.