Investigation of indoor molds and allergic diseases in public primary schools in Edirne city of Turkey.

Background:Studies evaluating the role of indoor molds in the development of allergic or respiratory symptoms in schools are few in childhood. Methods:Ten public primary schools were included into the study. A thorough assessment, using a questionnaire and inspection surveys was carried out. The concentration of culturable mold was assessed in the dust samples in the schools. Indoor temperature and humidity were measured. A total of 1374 students who completed valid questionnaires were included in the study, and dust-samples were collected from the schools. Results: Cumulative and current prevalence rates of wheezing, asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis were found as 31.4%, 9.3%, 16.2%, 6.0% and 13.4%, 11.9%, 15.1%, 2.1%, respectively. The most frequent mold-species detected in indoor dusts were Cladosporium, Penicillium, Alternaria and Aspergillus. Although the prevalence rates of allergic diseases and respiratory symptoms were high, indoor mold amounts were low in the schools in our region and no significant correlation was determined between indoor mold amount and the prevalence of these diseases in schools or classrooms. Conclusion: Even though allergic molds are present in schools, the mold-exposure may not be an important predisposing factor for development of allergic and respiratory diseases the schools in our region. Objective: This study aimed to investigate relation between indoor molds and allergic diseases or respiratory symptoms in primary school’s children in Edirne, Turkey.

Prevalence of asthma among preschool children in Edirne, Turkey.

Allergic diseases generally begin early during childhood, but a late diagnosis is common. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of asthma and asthma-related symptoms among kindergarten children in Edirne, Turkey. 873 subjects based on a modified ISAAC questionnaire were included. The prevalence of 'wheezing ever' and 'wheezing during the previous year' was 23.3% and 8.6%, respectively. Prior physician diagnoses existed for 36 of 873 (4.1%) children. The prevalence of children undiagnosed with asthma, but reporting asthma-related symptoms was 3.1%, 51.9% of which had previous beta-agonist prescriptions. However, none of these children received inhaled anti-inflammatory medications. In conclusion, it was found that a large population of preschool children had undiagnosed respiratory symptoms suggestive of asthma. Conducting simple surveys of young children is particularly important, as identification of asthma early in the disease course will facilitate effective prevention and treatment.

Sensitization to common allergens, especially pollens, among children with respiratory allergy in the Trakya region of Turkey.

Asthma and allergic rhinitis are common problems in children and the causative pollen allergens vary according to the geographical area. The aim of this study was to investigate patterns of sensitization to common inhalant allergens, especially pollens, in Turkish children living in the Trakya region and to determine differences between rural and urban areas. Allergen skin testing was prospectively performed on 539 children aged between 4 and 17 years with respiratory allergy. The reaction was considered to be positive if the mean wheal diameter was at least 3 mm greater than that of the negative controls. We detected positive skin reactions in 420 (77.9%) children. Two hundred and eighty-one (52.1%) mite, 277 (51.4%) pollen, 174 (32.3%) mold, 65 (12.1%) animal dander, 12 (2.2%) cockroach and 6 (1.1%) latex skin sensitivities were detected. Among the pollen allergies 173 were cereal pollen (32.1%), 170 grass pollen (31.5%) and 144 tree pollen allergies (26.7%). The most common positive skin test among the pollens was to cultivated wheat (Titicum vulgare) (n = 116, 21,5%), followed by rye grass (Lolium perenne) and orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata). Positive skin reactions to Alternaria, to Candida albicans, and to all pollens except Ulmus competris, Pinus sylvetris, Platanus vulgaris and Tilia platyphyllos, were higher in children with allergic rhinitis than in those with asthma. In children from rural areas, allergic skin reactivity was found to be more common against Candida albicans, sheep dander and all pollens except Corylus avellana, Fraxinus excelsior, Populus alba, Pinus sylvetris, Platanus vulgaris and Chenopodium album, than in urban children. Although Trakya is close to Greece and other Mediterranean countries, this study suggests that the pollens, which sensitize children, are not similar.