Prevalence of Asthma and Allergic Diseases and Its Risk Factors in School Children Aged (6-7 and 13-14 Years) in Assalouyeh City, Bushehr Province Based on III ISAAC Protocol Phase I, in 2014

Abstract

Background: Asthma and allergic diseases are raised as a major health  problem. The prevalence of these diseases are increasing in Iran and  all over the world. Based on this, the present study assessed to prevalence of these diseases in Assalouyeh region, Bushehr Province. Material and Methods: This study was performed on 190 school children aged 6-7 years and 223 girl student aged 13-14 years in Assalouyeh city in 2014 based on ISAAC standard questionnaires Phase I and III which examined prevalence and risk factors for these diseases. Results: The prevalence of atopic eczema, allergic rhinitis and asthma among  6-7 year-old students were 11.6%, 13.7% and 5.8%, respectively. While, the prevalence of these diseases among 13-14 year-old students were 14.3%, 21.5% and 15.2%, respectively. Also, there were a significant association between risk factors such as exposure to tobacco smoke, pet keeping, consumption of fast and sea foods with prevalence of these diseases (P<0.05). Conclusion: Asthma and allergic diseases were high among school children in Assalouyeh and it seems that this increasing prevalenc can be associated with risk factors such as exposure to tobacco smoke, pet keeping, consumption of fast and sea foods.

Keywords

• Prevalence
• Asthma
• Atopic eczema
• Allergic rhinitis
• ISAAC