Epidemiological Study for Allergic Disease of School Aged Children and Adolescence in Rural Area of Korea / 대한이비인후과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Basic epidemiologic investigations are important given the need for prevention and proper treatment of the patient with allergic disease. However, basic epidemiologic data of allergic disease in Korea are rarely found. Especially, data about school children in the rural areas of Korea are not found in the review of literature. We attempted to obtain epidemiological data of allergic diseases, such as prevalence rate, skin test results and family history, in school children living in the rural area of Korea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed statistical analysis of 13,160 students who responded to the questionnaire concerning several allergic symptoms and family history. Of these 13,160 students, 171 students were given skin tests, and their results were also statistically analyzed. RESULTS AND SUMMARY: The percentage of students who had ever suffered from allergic diseases were as follows: atopic dermatitis (11.2%), urticaria (31.3%), asthma (11.1%), and allergic rhinitis (28.5%). The prevalence rate of allergic disease at the point of study performed were as follows: atopic dermatitis (1.5%), urticaria (4.7%), asthma (2.2%), and allergic rhinitis (5.3%). Students with allergic symptoms showed positive skin test results (64.7%). The most common allergen causing the allergic symptoms were Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farinae. Seasonal predominance was prominent in the winter (33.8%) for students who have allergic rhinitis.