J Asthma Allergy Clin Immunol.  2002 Mar;22(1):85-91.

Prevalence of asthma and atopy in children living in rural areas of Cheju island for an interval of three years

• Lee MH
• Hong SC
• Kim SH
• Bahn JW
• Kim TB
• Kim YK
• Cho SH
• Min KU
• Kim YY

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of asthma has been increasing due to changes in lifestyles.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of asthma and atopy for an interval of three years in children living in rural areas of Cheju island.
METHODS
A total of 1,055 and 755 subjects aged 7-15 years in South Cheju County were enrolled for an interval of three years, respectively. They responded to the modified ISAAC questionnaire, and underwent allergy skin prick test with locally common aeroallergens and methacholine bronchial provocation test. Children who had asthma symptom as reported on the questionnaire and bronchial hyperresponsiveness to methacholine were diagnosed as current asthma. Atopy was defined as the positive skin responses to one or more aeroallergens.
RESULTS
The prevalence of current asthma had increased from 4.4% to 7.0% during the three years, especially among children aged 13 to 15 years (3.9% vs. 7.6%), although the asthma prevalence was similar between the two intervals among children aged 7 to 12 years (5.2% vs. 6.8%). The atopy rate had significantly increased from 37.7% to 45.9% during the three years. As for common sensitizing aeroallergens, sensitization rate to citrus red mite had significantly increased among both the young and the old age groups. The sensitization rates to house dust mites, such as D. pteronyssinus and D. farinae, had increased among the old age groups, but not among the young age groups, although the sensitization rates to cockroach and Japanese cedar pollen were similar among both the young and old age groups at the two intervals.
CONCLUSION
The prevalence of current asthma and atopy had increased among children living in rural areas of Cheju island during the three year interval. The sensitization to house dust mite and citrus red mite had increased during the three years, and may play an important role in the increased prevalence of current asthma.

Keyword

Atopy; asthma; epidemiology; citrus red mite; Cheju island

MeSH Terms

Asthma*
Bronchial Provocation Tests
Child*
Citrus
Cockroaches
Cryptomeria
Epidemiology
Humans
Hypersensitivity
Jeju-do*
Life Style
Methacholine Chloride
Mites
Pollen
Prevalence*
Pyroglyphidae
Skin
Surveys and Questionnaires
Methacholine Chloride