[The prevalence of symptoms of allergic diseases among younger school children in Medimurje County (ISAAC Phase I)]. / Prevalencija simptoma alergijskih bolesti u mlade skolske djece na podrucju Medimurske zupanije (ISAAC faza I).

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of symptoms of asthma, allergic rhinitis/rhinoconjuctivitis and atopic eczema symptoms in the Medimurje County in Northwest Croatia. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study was undertaken between January and April 2005 among school children in 27 randomly selected elementary schools. Data were collected using standardized ISAAC written questionnaire Phase I. RESULTS: A total of 3106 children participated in the study (7-9 yrs) with response rate 96.94%. 712 (22.9%) children had symptoms of allergic diseases at some time in their life. Estimated lifetime (ever) prevalence rates of symptoms were: wheezing 14.91%, allergic rhinitis symptoms 8.88% and atopic dermatitis symptoms 10.66%. Estimated 12-month prevalence rates were: wheezing 6.92%, allergic rhinitis symptoms 8.40%, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis 4.67%, and atopic dermatitis symptoms 5.76%. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study show that Medimurje County is an area with moderate prevalence of atopic disease symptoms among the pediatric population.

The prevalence of allergic diseases among Croatian school children according to the ISAAC Phase One questionnaire.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of asthma and allergic diseases in children has been increasing worldwide over the past decades. The ISAAC Phase I results supplies valuable information on the worldwide variations in the prevalence of these diseases. Although ISAAC Phase I was completed in 56 countries, not all regions of Croatia were covered. Because of Croatia's high regional diversity, the aim was to explore the prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinitis/rhinoconjuctivitis, and atopic eczema symptoms in the Medimurje region in northern Croatia and compare the results with data from other regions in Croatia and other countries. MATERIAL/METHODS: The study was undertaken between January and April 2005 among 12- to 14-year-old children in 27 elementary schools. Data were collected using the standardized ISAAC written and asthma video questionnaires. RESULTS: A total of 3111 children participated in the study, with a participation rate of 94.33%. 27.6% of the children had symptoms of allergic diseases at some time in their life. Estimated lifetime (ever) prevalence of symptoms were: wheezing 11.86%, allergic rhinitis symptoms 12.21%, and atopic dermatitis symptoms 7.01%. Estimated 12-month prevalence rates were: wheezing 5.11%, allergic rhinitis symptoms 10.87%, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis 7.14%, and atopic dermatitis symptoms 5.34%. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with previous studies conducted in other Croatian regions (the city of Zagreb and a northern Adriatic region) using similar methods, the prevalence of asthma and allergic rhinitis was lower than in the northern Adriatic region but comparable with that in the city of Zagreb, and of atopic dermatitis symptoms in the same range.