Allergy Asthma Respir Dis.  2015 Jan;3(1):62-69. 10.4168/aard.2015.3.1.62.

Analysis of regional prevalence of allergic diseases in Korean school children

• Lee Y
• Choi J
• Park MR
• Kim J
• Kim WK
• Park YM
• Lee SY
• Han MY
• Chae Y
• Ham MI
• Lee KJ
• Kwon HJ
• Ahn K

• KMID: 2262279
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4168/aard.2015.3.1.62

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study aimed to analyze the prevalence of allergic diseases in Korean schoolchildren according to their residential areas in 2010.
METHODS
A nationwide, cross-sectional study was conducted in children aged 6-7 years (n=4,003) and adolescents aged 12-13 years (n=4,112) who were randomly selected. Demographic and disease-related information was obtained through a Korean version of ISAAC (International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood) questionnaire, and skin prick tests for 18 inhalant allergens were performed.
RESULTS
There was statistically significant regional difference in the prevalence of allergic rhinitis (AR) (P<0.05). The regions with highest and lowest prevalence in 12- to 13-year-old children were as follows: Chungcheong and Honam in "Diagnosis of AR, ever" (33.7% vs. 24.5%), Jeju and Yeongnam in "Treatment of AR, last 12 months" (25.5% vs. 18.0%), Chungcheong and Yeongnam in "Rhinitis with sensitization" (31.6% vs. 23.6%). The regions with highest and lowest prevalence in 6-7 years old children were as follows: Yeongnam and Seoul in "Diagnosis of AR, ever" (42.1% vs. 31.0%), Yeongnam and Jeju in "Treatment of AR, last 12 months" (31.8% vs. 21.9%), Jeju and Seoul in "Rhinitis with sensitization" (26.0% vs. 18.4%). We also found a regional difference in inhalant allergens among the children with "rhinitis with sensitization"
CONCLUSION
The prevalence of AR in children differs according to residential areas in a nationwide survey in 2010 while there is no significant regional difference in the prevalence of asthma and AD.

Keyword

Asthma; Allergic rhinitis; Atopic dermatitis; Prevalence; Child

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Allergens
Asthma
Child*
Cross-Sectional Studies
Dermatitis, Atopic
Humans
Hypersensitivity
Prevalence*
Rhinitis
Seoul
Skin
Surveys and Questionnaires
Allergens

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Sensitization rate to inhalant allergens according to residential areas in children aged 6–7 years (A–C) and 12–13 years (D–F) with “rhinitis with sensitization”. Data on indoor allergens (A, D) are presented, while the distribution of sensitization to tree pollen and grass pollen (B, E) along with weed pollen and fungi (C, F) are shown as well. ∗ P<0.05. Der p, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus; Der f, Dermatophagoides farina; Tyro p, Tyrophagus putrescentiae.

Reference

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