Prevalence of allergic rhinitis and risk factors in 6- to 7-year-old children in Istanbul, Turkey

Headnote

SUMMARY: Tamay Z, Akçay A, Ergin A, Giiler N. Prevalence of allergic rhinitis and risk factors in 6- to 7-year-old children in istanbul, Turkey. Turk J Pediatr 2014; 56: 31-40.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of allergic rhinitis and its relationship with various risk factors in 6-7-year-old children living in istanbul. A total of 11,483 children aged 6-7 years in 75 primary schools from all districts of istanbul were surveyed. Prevalence of symptoms of allergic rhinitis was assessed using a translated version of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire. Of them, 9,875 (50.7% M, 49.3% F) questionnaires were appropriately completed by the parents. The prevalence rates of lifetime, current and physician-diagnosed allergic rhinitis were 44.3%, 29.2% and 8.1%, respectively. There was nearly a two-fold variation in the prevalence rates of rhinitis between the districts of istanbul. Frequent paracetamol and antibiotic use in the first year of life, history of frequent upper respiratory tract infections, adenotonsillectomy, breastfeeding less than six months, dog at home or perianal redness in the first year of life, and frequent trucks passing near the home were independent risk factors.

Key words: allergic rhinitis, prevalence, risk factors.

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a common childhood disorder like other allergic diseases1. The etiology of AR and other allergic diseases remains poorly understood despite considerable research. According to worldwide studies, parents reported 12-month prevalence of rhinoconjunctivitis in the 6-7 years age group as ranging from 2.2% to 24.2%2. Reported prevalence rates of AR for Turkish schoolaged children range from 4.5% to 43.5%3'12. Epidemiological studies have so far failed to reach their full potential because of lack of standardization in case definition and methodology. ISAAC, the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood, established a standardized methodology and facilitated making comparisons within and between countries13.

It has been attempted to explain the large variations in the worldwide prevalence of symptoms of AR by environmental factors such as family history of atopy, passive smoking, pet at home, gender, and exposure to antibiotics and paracetamol early in life14'16. However, determinants contributing to the development of AR are still lacking.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of AR using the standard ISAAC...