Korean J Asthma Allergy Clin Immunol.  2007 Sep;27(3):168-175.

Prevalence of Allergic Diseases in High School Students in Korea

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Whereas allergic disease has a high morbidity among adolescents, there have been few reports concerning asthma prevalence using objective parameters such as methacholine bronchial provocation tests in this age group.
OBJECTIVE
Thus we investigate the prevalence of asthma and other allergic diseases using questionnaires and measuring bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) in high school students in Korea. METHOD: A questionnaire survey was conducted among 1499 high school students, from 3 regions in Korea between April and May, 2006. They responded to a modified International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) written (WQ) and video (AVQ) questionnaires. 709 subjects of them underwent methacholine bronchial challenge test. RESULT: The WQ showed that the lifetime and 12- month prevalences of wheeze were 16.0% and 8.9%.The lifetime prevalence of asthma diagnosis was 7.0% and 12-month prevalence of asthma treatment was 1.5%. By video questionnaire, the lifetime prevalence and 12- month prevalence of wheeze were 7.9% and 5.5%. The prevalence of current asthma based on the questionnaire and bronchial challenge tests was 3.2%. The prevalence of current asthma and BHR were higher in female than in male subjects. For 12-month prevalence of allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis were 37.7% and 11.4%, respectively.
CONCLUSION
The prevalence of current asthma in high school students were 3.2%. Despite the fact that 12-month prevalence of wheeze and lifetime prevalence of asthma diagnosis were 8.9% was 7.0%, only 1.5% of answered subjects received asthma treatment. Its prevalence was still low compared to asthma prevalence.


MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Asthma
Bronchial Provocation Tests
Dermatitis, Atopic
Diagnosis
Female
Humans
Hypersensitivity
Korea*
Male
Methacholine Chloride
Prevalence*
Rhinitis
Surveys and Questionnaires
Methacholine Chloride
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