Prevalence and risk factors for allergic rhinitis and atopic eczema among schoolchildren in Israel: results from a national study
Received 29 June 2003; accepted 4 September 2003.
Background
There is growing evidence that the prevalence rates of asthma and allergic diseases are increasing, especially among children. Several risk factors are under investigation.
Objective
To evaluate the prevalence and risk factors for allergic diseases, including allergic rhinitis (AR) and atopic eczema (AE), among 13- to 14-year-old schoolchildren in Israel.
Methods
A modified version of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood written questionnaire was administered to a national sample of schoolchildren 13 to 14 years old in Israel. The questionnaire was completed by the schoolchildren themselves.
Results
There were 10,057 complete questionnaires available for analysis. The prevalence of AR symptoms ever and current AR were 41.6% and 9.4%, respectively. Allergic rhinoconjunctivitis symptoms ever were reported by 15.8% of the children. The prevalence rates of 6 months of itchy rash ever and AE were 5.9% and 7.8%, respectively. After adjustment for demographic and environmental factors, current asthma, parental history of asthma, and population group were the most significant risk factors for current AR (odds ratio [OR], 4.47; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.70–5.40; OR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.02–1.66; and OR, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.45–2.13; respectively) and AE (OR, 2.30; 95% CI, 1.80–2.90; OR, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.40–2.30; and OR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.40–2.00; respectively).
Conclusions
Israeli children have a low prevalence rate of current AR and a midrange rate of AE. Arabs have lower prevalence rates of allergic diseases than Jews, and the prominent risk factors for those diseases are current asthma and parental history of asthma.
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*Allergy and Pulmonary Clinic, Israel Defense Forces, Tel-Aviv, Israel.
†Pediatric Department B and Kipper Institute of Allergy and Immunology, Schneider Children's Medical Center, and the Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel.
§The Israel Center for Disease Control, Israel Ministry of Health, Tel-Hashomer, and the Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Israel.
¶Tel-Aviv Health District, Israel Ministry of Health, Tel-Aviv, and the Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Israel.
Requests for reprints should be addressed to: Tamy Shohat, MD, PO Box 20301, Tel-Aviv Health District, 14 Haarbaah St, Tel-Aviv, Israel 61203
ABSTRACT