Prevalence of Asthma, Allergic Rhinitis and Eczema among Lebanese Adolescents
- 1 January 2009
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Taylor & Francis Ltd in Journal of Asthma
- Vol. 46 (4), 382-387
- https://doi.org/10.1080/02770900902777775
Abstract
Objective. Studies on allergic diseases remain scarce in Lebanon. The aim of the present study was to determine prevalence and characteristics of asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema among Lebanese school children. Methods. The study was cross-sectional in design performed on a convenient sample of 3,115 students (13–14 yr) selected from 13 schools in 5 Lebanese provinces. Students were asked to complete the Arabic version of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire. Logistic regression was performed to assess the characteristics of having asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema in the past year. Results. The prevalence of ever having asthma, rhinitis and eczema was 8.3%, 45.2% and 12.8% respectively, while the prevalence of the symptoms of these diseases in the past year was 24.1%, 38.6% and 20.9%, respectively. Residing in the South and the North provinces of Lebanon and living in a busy area increased the likelihood of developing asthma and rhinitis. Higher rates of asthma and eczema, however, was noted among students going to private schools (Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.6, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.3–2.1 and OR = 1.3, 95% CI: 1.0–1.7, respectively). Passive smoking was significantly associated with asthma only (OR = 1.3, 95% CI: 1.1–1.7). In addition to the above, the odds of having any of the three outcomes increases to at least 2.4-fold when accompanied by another allergic disease. Conclusions. Allergic diseases are highly prevalent in Lebanon and are catching up with the rates of developed countries. Moreover, the role of each of the three diseases in the existence of the other two had the greatest impact on their prevalence.Keywords
This publication has 30 references indexed in Scilit:
- Changing Prevalence of Asthma and Allergic Diseases among Kuwaiti ChildrenMedical Principles and Practice, 2008
- Maternal diet vs lack of exposure to sunlight as the cause of the epidemic of asthma, allergies and other autoimmune diseasesThorax, 2007
- Quality of Mental Health Care for Youth With Asthma and Comorbid Anxiety and DepressionMedical Care, 2006
- Prevalence and socioeconomic associations of asthma and allergic rhinitis in nothern AfricaEuropean Respiratory Journal, 2006
- Quality of life and childhood atopic dermatitis: the misery of living with childhood eczemaInternational Journal of Clinical Practice, 2006
- Economic impact of community-acquired and nosocomial lower respiratory tract infections in young children in GermanyEuropean Journal of Pediatrics, 2005
- The burden of asthma in children: a European perspectivePaediatric Respiratory Reviews, 2005
- Childhood atopic eczemaBMJ, 2002
- Worldwide variation in prevalence of symptoms of asthma, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, and atopic eczema: ISAACThe Lancet, 1998
- Environmental tobacco smoke, wheezing, and asthma in children in 24 communities.American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 1996