Prevalence of Asthma, Rhinitis and Eczema in Korean Children Using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) Questionnaires

Jee, Hye Mi; Kim, Kyung Won; Kim, Chang Soo; Sohn, Myung Hyun; Shin, Dong Cheon; Kim, Kyu Earn

Abstract

PURPOSE
The prevalence and morbidity of asthma, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis are increasing worldwide. The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) was a standardized method to evaluate the prevalence of these diseases, and to compare it between countries. Using the standardized protocol, proposed by ISAAC Steering Committee, the prevalence of allergic diseases in Korean children was reported in 1995 and 2000. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the prevalence and changing patterns of morbidity of allergic diseases in Korean children for recent 10 years.
METHODS
From October 2006 to November 2006, Korean ISAAC written questionnaires were completed by the parents of 37,365 children attending 438 elementary schools in Seoul and 14 provinces. The questionnaires consisted of the questions about wheezing, rhinitis and eczema.
RESULTS
The prevalences of "wheeze, ever", "wheezing, last 12 months", "diagnosis of asthma, ever" and "treatment of asthma, last 12 months" were 10.53%, 4.7%, 7.81% and 2.51%, respectively. The prevalences of "rhinitis, ever", "rhinitis, last 12 months", "diagnosis of allergic rhinitis, ever" and "treatment of allergic rhinitis, last 12 months" were 37.7%, 32.8%, 27.94% and 21.44%, respectively. And prevalences of "itchy eczema, ever", "itchy flexural eczema, last 12 months", "diagnosis of atopic dermatitis, ever" and "treatment of atopic dermatitis, last 12 months" were 20.99%, 15.91%, 28.22% and 13.91%, respectively.
CONCLUSION
From the results of this study, the prevalence of asthma decreased slightly compared to previous studies. In contrast, the prevalences of allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis are still increasing in Korean children in 2006.