Korean J Asthma Allergy Clin Immunol.  2011 Jun;31(2):105-115.

Prevalence of Atopic and Allergic Disorders in Children Attending an Elementary School in Ulsan

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Ulsan is the most industrialized city in Korea. Although many investigations as to which factors are related to allergy and atopy have been performed so far, these factors are still uncertain. Studies of industrialized environment can help to understand an atopic disorder.
OBJECTIVE
This study was undertaken to investigate the prevalence of allergic and atopic disorders in an industrial city, Ulsan and to estimate the proportion of 'real' atopy to so-called 'allergy and atopy'. Also, we examined the validity of some items of blood tests, such as serum total IgE levels and eosinophil counts for the diagnosis of the atopic disorder. METHOD: We conducted the questionnaire survey based on the ISAAC protocol along with demographic variables at an elementary school in the central area of Ulsan. The questionnaires were completed by patients of 1,323 children, of whom 570 participated in skin prick test and blood test. Atopic disorder was defined as the presence of allergic symptoms and the presence of sensitization to any allergens by skin prick test. RESULT: The lifetime prevalence of atopic wheeze was 8.8% and the proportion of atopy of asthma was 60.4%. The lifetime symptom prevalence of 'real' atopic dermatitis (atopic eczema) was 16.1% and the proportion of atopy of atopic dermatitis was 49.4%. The prevalence of 'real' allergic rhinitis (atopic rhinitis) was 28.0% and the proportion of atopy of allergic rhinitis was 51.8%. The prevalence of overall atopic disorder was 37.0%, and the proportion of atopy of overall allergic disorder was 51.4%. The area under receiver operating characteristic curve of serum total IgE for the diagnosis of the atopic disorder was 0.770. Also, we observed the selective bias from the differences in prevalence between groups of complete participants and incomplete participants.
CONCLUSION
The prevalence of asthma was similar to those of other regions in Korea. However, atopic dermatitis and allergic rhinitis were more prevalent than other regions. About half of so-called allergic disorders may be an atopic disorder.

MeSH Terms

Allergens
Asthma
Bias (Epidemiology)
Child
Dermatitis, Atopic
Eosinophils
Hematologic Tests
Humans
Hypersensitivity
Immunoglobulin E
Korea
Prevalence
Rhinitis
Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial
ROC Curve
Skin
Surveys and Questionnaires
Allergens
Immunoglobulin E