Pediatr Allergy Respir Dis.  2001 Sep;11(3):224-232.

A Prospective Study of Asthma Prevalence and Atopy Rate in Children Living in Rural Area of Cheju Island for 3 Years

• Lee MH
• Hong SC
• Kim TB
• Son SW
• Jang YS
• Kim SH
• Chung JW
• Kim YK
• Cho SH
• Min KU
• Kim YY

Abstract

PURPOSE
Asthma has been increasing due to changes in life style and indoor environments. Manifestations of asthma and atopy varies according to age. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the changing prevalence of asthma and atopy in children living in rural area of Cheju island via three year prospective study.
METHODS
A total of 314 subjects aged from 7 to 12 years was followed up for three years. They responded a ISAAC questionnare, underwent allergy skin prick test with common aeroallergens and methacholine bronchial provocation test. Children with asthma symptoms on a questionnaire and positive methacholine bronchial provocation test were diagnosed as bronchial asthma. Skin prick test was regarded as positive when the size of wheal caused by allergens was same or larger than that caused by histamine.
RESULTS
The prevalence of bronchial asthma has a tendency to increase from 4.1 % to 7.3% three years later(P=0.08). The atopy rate has significantly increased from 34.1% to 49.2% in both girls and boys(P<0.001), from 35.0% to 46.9% in girls(P< 0.05), and from 33.3% to 51.3% in boys(P<0.05). The positive skin responses to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, D. farinae(P=0.36), Japanese cedar and cockroach were not changed between the three years. However, the postive skin reponse to citrus red mite was significantly increased three years later(from 10.7% to 31.1%, P<0.001).
CONCLUSION
The asthma prevalence has a tendency to increase in children living in rural area with citrus farms. The atopy rate has been also increasing in the rural children. These phenomena may be explained by the fact that sensitization to citrus red mite has been increasing when they are getting older.

Keyword

Atopy; Asthma; Epidemiology; Citrus red mite

MeSH Terms

Allergens
Asthma*
Bronchial Provocation Tests
Child*
Citrus
Cockroaches
Cryptomeria
Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus
Epidemiology
Female
Histamine
Humans
Hypersensitivity
Jeju-do*
Life Style
Methacholine Chloride
Mites
Prevalence*
Prospective Studies*
Surveys and Questionnaires
Skin
Allergens
Histamine
Methacholine Chloride