Prevalence of Allergic Rhinitis in 13-14 Year Old School Children in Hamedan
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Tehran University of Medical Sciences Press
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Objective: Allergic Rhinitis (AR) is an inflammatory disorder of the
nasal mucosa characterized by nasal congestion, rhinorrhea and itching
and often accompanied by sneezing and conjunctival irritation. Two
prerequisites for the expression of AR are sensitivity to an allergen
and its presence in the environment. Recognition of allergens and
removal and avoidance of them can decrease the prevalence of AR. This
study aims to evaluate the prevalence of AR in Hamedan, Iran, and
recognition of effective factors involved in expression of AR.
Methods: The study was undertaken between October 2005 and June 2006
among 13- to 14-yearold children in middle-schools of Hamedan. Data
were collected using the standardized ISAAC written questionnaire for
prevalence of AR and another questionnaire for effective factors on AR
including gender, season of expression of AR, smoking parents, keeping
pets and birds, apartment plants, breast milking and family size. In
the second phase the students with AR were examined for signs of AR.
Findings: A total of 1600 (900 girls and 700 boys) children
participated in the study. 17.7% of the children had symptoms of
allergic rhinitis sometime in their life. There was no significant
difference between prevalence of AR between boys and girls (18.6% in
the boys and 17% in the girls) (P>0.05). 37.2% of the cases were
perennial and 62.8% of them were seasonal or mixed type. AR was more
prevalent in spring (21%). The prevalence of the disease between
students with smoking parents and non smoking parents were 30.6% and
11.2% respectively (P<0.001). The prevalence of the disease between
students with pets and without pets were 23.1% and 17.7% respectively
(P=0.001). Presence of apartment plants, type of nutrition and family
size had no effect on prevalence of AR (P>0.05). The most common
signs of AR were allergic shiners (54%) and clear and dilute nasal
secretion (51%). Conclusion: Compared with previous studies conducted
in other Iranian cities using similar method, the prevalence of
allergic rhinitis was lower in Hamedan. The prevalence of AR may be
reduced with avoidance of smoking and removal of pets.
Keywords
Allergic Rhinitis, ISAAC, Allergic shiners, Allergen
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