The Turkish Journal of Pediatrics
2014 , Vol 56 , Num 1
Prevalence of allergic rhinitis and risk factors in 6- to 7-yearold children in İstanbul, Turkey
1Division of Pediatric Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, İstanbul University İstanbul Faculty of
Medicine, and 2Division of Pediatric Allergy, Department of Pediatrics, Liv Hospital, İstanbul, and 3Department of Pediatrics,
Pamukkale University Pamukkale Faculty of Medicine, Denizli, Turkey. E-mail: eztamay@gmail.com or eztamay@yahoo.com
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
İstanbul. A total of 11,483 children aged 6-7 years in 75 primary schools from
all districts of İstanbul 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 İstanbul. 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.
Keywords :
allergic rhinitis, prevalence, risk factors.