Cockroach allergy in Kentucky: a comparison of inner city, suburban, and rural small town populations.

The cockroach has been reported as a major allergen in inner city asthmatic patients. The retrospective chart review of 799 patients tested over a 10-year period (1981-1991) derived from a private allergy practice and a university allergy clinic is reported. Patients from both groups were divided geographically by home zip codes into inner city, suburban, or rural small town populations. Criteria for positive skin tests were wheal greater than 5 mm for prick and greater than 10 mm for intradermal tests with flare. Overall, 36.9% (295/799) of all patients surveyed were positive by either prick or intradermal skin testing. Cockroach reactivity was observed in 38.6% (95/246) of the private patients tested with 36.2% (200/553) of the university patients showing positive results. The inner city populations in both groups of patients were similar with 43.7% and 40.3% of the private and university patients, respectively, testing positive, with an overall positivity of 41% for all inner city patients. Inner city and rural small town populations for both study groups demonstrated almost identical reactivity with 41% and 43% overall positivity, respectively. Of the suburban group, 37.5% of the private patients and 28.8% of the university patients had reactive skin tests results with an overall rate of positivity of 30.1%. This rate (30.1%) is significantly less than the rate for either inner city (41.0%, P < .05) or rural small town (43.6%, P < .01) populations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Impact of short-term oral steroid use upon children's school achievement and behavior.

Physicians need clarification of whether the temporary use of adrenal corticosteroids to abort acute asthma can adversely effect school achievement and behavior problems. Nineteen nonsteroid-dependent asthmatic children were given prednisone orally while all other medications were kept constant. Five days later, when they were seen in the physician's office, an academic achievement test was administered to the child; and the child, a parent, and a teacher completed behavior rating surveys. After 2 weeks off the steroids the child returned to the physician's office and the achievement test and rating scales were completed again. There was no significant difference between the achievement test scores and behavior ratings in school or at home under the two conditions. Short-term use of oral steroids does not impair children's basic academic skills nor their behavior at school or home.

The relationship of allergies and allergy treatment to school performance and student behavior.

The purposes of this project were to study the relationship of allergies and allergy treatment to school behavior. Parents of allergic and nonallergic children (grades K-12 and from different socioeconomic status) completed a survey form. The 400 parent respondents reported no significant difference between allergic and nonallergic children in terms of academic and language performance, retention, diagnosis as handicapped, or behavior problems; allergic children were absent from school more. Eustachian tube dysfunctions were significantly related to academic and behavior problems. Certain medications were related to overactive types of behavior. Parents who considered their children's behavior as inappropriate tended to contribute a portion of it to side effects of medication. 65% of the parents reported positive results from treatment on behavior at home; they tended to be unsure of the impact on school behavior. Direct relationship of allergy and allergy treatment on academic performance is questionable, except for the impact of upper respiratory problems on listening and attention. Use of certain medications with already behavior disordered children requires caution. Better communication among physicians, teachers and parents is advised.