Journal List > Allergy Asthma Respir Dis > v.3(1) > 1094430

Kwon, Lim, Kim, Son, Park, Jang, Kim, Kim, Yoo, and Park: Prevalence and allergens of allergic rhinitis in children and adolescents in Gwangju

Abstract

Purpose

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is one of the most common childhood diseases in Korea. In this study, we aimed to investigate the prevalence and allergens of childhood AR in Gwangju.

Methods

From April 2013 to September 2013 in Gwangju, skin prick test and questionnaire survey were performed targeting 2,330 children in total (350 kindergartners, 930 elementary school students, 589 middle school students, and 461 high school students).

Results

The overall prevalence of AR was 23.5% (female 21.3%, male 26.1%). According to age groups, prevalence of AR was 14.9% (female 10.7%, male 19.8%) in kindergartners, 24.5% (female 18.8%, male 29.4%) in elementary school students, 23.3% (female 18.1%, male 27.6%) in middle school students, 26.2% (female 27.7%, male 23.2%) in high school students. The most common allergen was Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (79.7%), followed by Dermatophagoides farina (72.2%), birch (14.0%), alder (12.0%), Japanese hop (9.2%), Alternaria (8.9%), cat fur (7.2%), Japanese cedar (6.9%), ryegrass (6.6%), willow (6.0%), pine (5.4%), oak (4.9%), mugwort (4.3%), orchard grass (4.0%), sheep fescue (3.7%), fat hen (3.4%), ragweed (3.4%), and maple (3.4%).

Conclusion

This research figures out the prevalence and the detailed allergens of AR in Gwangju children. We suggest that more vegetation data of Japanese cedar should be surveyed in recent future.

Figures and Tables

Fig. 1

Prevalence of allergic rhinitis based on questionnaire with skin prick test according to age with 95% confidence interval. The solid line shows trend of prevalence increase with aging (P=0.0139).

aard-3-54-g001
Fig. 2

Sensitization rate of allergens in childhood allergic rhinitis in Gwangju.

aard-3-54-g002
Fig. 3

Sensitization rate of allergen types according to school. *Though sensitization rate of pollen looks increase according to school in this figure, this results is not statistically significant (P=0.1301).

aard-3-54-g003
Table 1

Demographic data of enrolled children

aard-3-54-i001
School Gender No. (%) Questionnaire, yes Questionnaire, no
Skin prick test Skin prick test
Total Yes No Total Yes No
Kindergarten (5-6 yr) Girl 170 (6.8) 160 (6.4) 103 (4.1) 57 (2.3) 10 (0.4) 2 (< 0.1) 8 (0.3)
Boy 180 (7.3) 166 (6.7) 91 (3.7) 75 (3.0) 14 (0.5) 2 (< 0.1) 12 (0.4)
Subtotal 350 (14.1) 326 (13.1) 194 (7.8) 132 (5.3) 24 (0.9) 4 (0.1) 20 (0.8)
Elementary Girl 439 (17.8) 427 (17.2) 197 (7.9) 230 (9.3) 12 (0.4) 3 (0.1) 9 (0.3)
Boy 491 (19.8) 474 (19.1) 228 (9.2) 246 (9.9) 17 (0.6) 3 (0.1) 14 (0.5)
Subtotal 930 (37.6) 901 (36.4) 425 (17.2) 476 (19.2) 29 (1.2) 6 (0.2) 23 (1.0)
Middle Girl 296 (12.0) 272 (11.1) 171 (7.1) 101 (4.0) 24 (0.9) 8 (0.3) 16 (0.6)
Boy 293 (11.8) 283 (11.4) 203 (8.2) 80 (3.2) 10 (0.4) 3 (0.1) 7 (0.3)
Subtotal 589 (23.8) 555 (22.4 374 (15.1) 181 (7.3) 34 (1.4) 11 (0.4) 23 (1.0)
High Girl 411 (16.6) 402 (16.2) 328 (13.2) 74 (3.0) 9 (0.4) 6 (0.3) 3 (0.1)
Boy 194 (7.8) 179 (7.2) 164 (6.6) 15 (0.6) 15 (0.6) 14 (0.5) 1 (< 0.1)
Subtotal 605 (24.4) 581 (23.5) 492 (19.9) 89 (3.6) 24 (0.9) 20 (0.8) 4 (0.1)
Total 2,474 (100) 2,363 (95.5) 1,485 (60.0) 878 (35.5) 111 (4.5) 41 (1.6) 70 (2.9)

Values are presented as number (%).

Table 2

Prevalence of allergic rhinitis based on questionnaire and questionnaire with skin prick test

aard-3-54-i002
School Sex Questionnaire Questionnaire with skin prick test
No./total % (95% CI) No./total % (95% CI)
Kindergarten (5-6 yr) Girl 64/160 40.0 (32.4-47.6) 11/103 10.7 (4.7-16.6)
Boy 84/166 50.6 (43.0-58.2) 18/91 19.8 (11.6-28.0)
Subtotal 148/326 45.4 (40.0-50.8) 29/194 14.9 (9.9-20.0)
Elementary Girl 166/427 38.9 (34.3-43.5) 37/197 18.8 (13.3-24.2)
Boy 244/474 51.5 (47.0-56.0) 67/228 29.4 (23.5-35.3)
Subtotal 410/901 45.5 (42.3-48.8) 104/425 24.5 (20.4-28.6)
Middle Girl 92/272 33.8 (35.6-43.7) 31/171 18.1 (12.3-23.9)
Boy 128/283 45.2 (39.4-51.0) 56/203 27.6 (21.4-33.7)
Subtotal 220/555 39.6 (35.6-43.7) 87/374 23.3 (19.0-27.5)
High Girl 214/402 53.2 (48.4-58.1) 91/328 27.7 (22.9-32.6)
Boy 72/179 40.2 (33.0-47.4) 38/164 23.2 (16.7-29.6)
Subtotal 286/581 49.2 (45.2-53.3) 129/492 26.2 (22.3-30.1)
Total Girl 536/1,261 42.5 (39.8-45.2)* 170/799 21.3 (18.4-24.1)*
Boy 528/1,102 47.9 (45-50.9) 179/686 26.1 (22.8-29.4)
Subtotal 1,064/2,363 45.0 (43.0-47.0) 349/1,485 23.5 (21.4-25.7)

CI, confidence interval.

*P=0.0084, between prevalence of allergic rhinitis in boy and girl based on 'questionnaire'. P=0.0291, between prevalence of allergic rhinitis in boy and girl based on 'questionnaire with skin prick test'.

Notes

This study was supported by a grant of Ministry of Environment.

References

1. Nimmagadda SR, Evans R 3rd. Allergy: etiology and epidemiology. Pediatr Rev. 1999; 20:111–115.
crossref
2. Asher MI, Keil U, Anderson HR, Beasley R, Crane J, Martinez F, et al. International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC): rationale and methods. Eur Respir J. 1995; 8:483–491.
crossref
3. Lee HB, Shin SA, Oh JW. New patterns of childhood asthma pevalence in six Asian countries: comparison of ISAAC phases I and III. Pediatr Allergy Respir Dis. 2008; 18:70–77.
4. Asher MI, Montefort S, Bjorksten B, Lai CK, Strachan DP, Weiland SK, et al. Worldwide time trends in the prevalence of symptoms of asthma, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, and eczema in childhood: ISAAC Phases One and Three repeat multicountry cross-sectional surveys. Lancet. 2006; 368:733–743.
crossref
5. Hong SJ, Ahn KM, Lee SY, Kim KE. The prevalences of asthma and allergic diseases in Korean children. Pediatr Allergy Respir Dis. 2008; 18:15–25.
crossref
6. Ahn K, Kim J, Kwon HJ, Chae Y, Hahm MI, Lee KJ, et al. The prevalence of symptoms of asthma, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, and eczema in Korean children: nationwide cross-sectional survey using complex sampling design. J Korean Med Assoc. 2011; 54:769–778.
crossref
7. Jee HM, Kim KW, Kim CS, Sohn MH, Shin DC, Kim KE. Prevalence of asthma, rhinitis and eczema in Korean children using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaires. Pediatr Allergy Respir Dis. 2009; 19:165–172.
8. Hong S, Son DK, Lim WR, Kim SH, Kim H, Yum HY, et al. The prevalence of atopic dermatitis, asthma, and allergic rhinitis and the comorbidity of allergic diseases in children. Environ Health Toxicol. 2012; 27:e2012006.
crossref
9. Lee HS, Lee J, Kim JW, Hong SC, Kim SY, Lee KH. The prevalence of allergic diseases in children living in Jeju. Pediatr Allergy Respir Dis. 2012; 22:248–255.
crossref
10. Kim DS, Park MR, Yu JS, Lee HS, Lee JH, Suh J, et al. Prevalence and risk factors of asthma and allergic rhinitis in elementary school children in Jinan-Gun. Pediatr Allergy Respir Dis. 2012; 22:374–382.
crossref
11. Kim TB, Kim KM, Kim SH, Kang HR, Chang YS, Kim CW, et al. Sensitization rates for inhalant allergens in Korea; a multi-center study. J Asthma Allergy Clin Immunol. 2003; 23:483–493.
12. Bousquet J, Khaltaev N, Cruz AA, Denburg J, Fokkens WJ, Togias A, et al. Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) 2008 update (in collaboration with the World Health Organization, GA(2)LEN and AllerGen). Allergy. 2008; 63:Suppl 86. 8–160.
13. van Rijswijk JB, Blom HM, Fokkens WJ. Idiopathic rhinitis, the ongoing quest. Allergy. 2005; 60:1471–1481.
crossref
14. Okubo K, Kurono Y, Fujieda S, Ogino S, Uchio E, Odajima H, et al. Japanese guideline for allergic rhinitis. Allergol Int. 2011; 60:171–189.
crossref
15. Hwang SH, Jung SY, Lim DH, Son BK, Kim JH, Yang JM, et al. Epidemiology of allergic rhinitis in Korean children. Allergy Asthma Respir Dis. 2013; 1:321–332.
crossref
16. Suh M, Kim HH, Sohn MH, Kim KE, Kim C, Shin DC. Prevalence of allergic diseases among Korean school-age children: a nationwide cross-sectional questionnaire study. J Korean Med Sci. 2011; 26:332–338.
crossref
17. Osman M, Hansell AL, Simpson CR, Hollowell J, Helms PJ. Gender-specific presentations for asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema in primary care. Prim Care Respir J. 2007; 16:28–35.
crossref
18. Seong HU, Cho SD, Park SY, Yang JM, Lim DH, Kim JH, et al. Nationwide survey on the prevalence of allergic diseases according to region and age. Pediatr Allergy Respir Dis. 2012; 22:224–231.
crossref
19. Kim JE, An HS, Kim MJ, Jung JA. A comparison of the sensitization rate to house dust mite in children with allergic disease in Busan's single university hospital in 2002 and 2007. Korean J Asthma Allergy Clin Immunol. 2009; 29:117–122.
20. Park SH, Lim DH, Son BK, Kim JH, Song YE, Oh IB, et al. Sensitization rates of airborne pollen and mold in children. Korean J Pediatr. 2012; 55:322–329.
crossref
21. Yoon BJ, Kim SH, Kim DH, Koh YI. Longitudinal changes of sensitization rates to inhalant allergens in patients with allergic diseases from Gwangju and Chonnam areas: their association with annual changes in temperature. Korean J Asthma Allergy Clin Immunol. 2011; 31:93–104.
22. Choi SW, Lee JH, Kim Y, Oh IB, Choi KR. Association between the sensitization rate for inhalant allergens in patients with respiratory allergies and the pollen concentration in Ulsan, Korea. Korean J Med. 2014; 86:453–461.
crossref
23. Choi HS, Cho JS, Choo JH, Ko WK, Ahn HY. Allergic rhinitis to Japanese Cedar in Cheju Island. Korean J Otolaryngol-Head Neck Surg. 1999; 42:1129–1133.
24. Kim CS, Lee JS, Cho KJ. Biomass and net production of Cryptomeria japonica and Chamaecyparis obtusa plantation in Changsong district, Cheonnam. J Korea For Energy. 1987; 7:1–10.
25. Hong HH, Jang JW, Sun EM, Kim BA, Kim SJ, Seo SR, et al. Floristic study of Mt. Mudeung. Korean J Environ Biol. 2013; 31:121–153.
crossref
26. Choi SW, Ju YS, Kim DS, Kim JY, Kwon HJ, Kang DH, et al. Reliability and validity of the Korean Version of ISAAC Questionnaire. Korean J Prev Med. 1998; 31:361–371.
TOOLS
Similar articles