Document Type : Research articles
Authors
- Mohammad Reza Fazlollahi 1
- Javid Morad Abbasi 2
- Vahid Ghobadi Dana 3, 4
- Alireza Yousefzade 5
- Nastaran Sabetkish 6
- Shahpar Haghighat 7
1 Allergist/Immunologist, Immunology, Asthma and Allergy Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
2 PhD, Asthma and Allergy Center, Tehran Medical Sciences Branch of Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Tehran, Iran
3 Pediatrician, Fellow in Training of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Allergy and Clinical Immunology Department, Hazrate Rasoul Medical Complex, Tehran, Iran
4 Asthma and Allergy Center, Tehran Medical Sciences Branch of Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Tehran, Iran
5 PhD, Educational Department, Royan Research Institute, Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Tehran, Iran
6 General Physician, Immunology, Asthma and Allergy Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
7 Epidemiologist, Epidemiology Department, School of Public Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Background: Increasing of childhood allergic diseases throughout the world and its heavy socioeconomic burden have posed an important health concern. Therefore, providing the updated relevant epidemiological information is robustly recommended.
Objectives: The study aimed to determine the prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinitis (AR), and eczema symptoms in primary school children aged 6 - 7 years and ascertain the association of acetaminophen use, antibiotic consumption, and hospitalization for respiratory infection in early life with allergic symptoms.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study conducted on primary school children aged 6 - 7 years from May to July 2012 in Tehran (Iran), a total of 4993 individuals took part. Cluster sampling was used for random selection of primary schools. Data were gathered by using a modified questionnaire of international study of asthma and allergies in childhood (ISAAC). Then, the questionnaires were completed by parents of the children.
Results: The prevalence rates of current wheeze, wheeze ever, current itching rash, itchy rash ever, and rhinitis ever were found to be 19.64%, 27.49%, 8.95%, 8.28%, and 21.87%, respectively. Physician-diagnosed asthma, eczema, and AR were reported in 4.32%, 7.29%, and 9.61% of children, respectively. Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that antibiotic use was significantly associated with symptoms of allergic rhinitis (P = 0.001). Also, the strongest association was found between asthma and atopic dermatitis symptoms and hospitalization due to respiratory infection in early life by multivariate analysis (P = 0.002 and P = 0.009, respectively).
Conclusions: This study determined the rising pattern of allergic symptoms in 6 - 7 year old children in Tehran. Moreover, acetaminophen/antibiotic use and hospitalization due to respiratory infection in early life were detected as significant risk factors for the appearance of childhood allergic symptoms.
Keywords
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