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Introduction: The prevalence of allergic asthma are increasing, and the clinical outcome and risk factors of immunotherapy in the treatment of allergy have not been well established. Especially, the impact of viral infection on cytokines in allergic inflammation has yet to be established. This study aimed to determine serum IL-3, IL-11 and IgE levels and blood eosinophil and neutrophil counts during a one-year follow up in patients with allergic asthma on immunotherapy and those on anti-asthmatic drugs only, in the presence of influenza-like illness. Materials and Methods: Sixty patients with allergic asthma were included in the prospective and comparative clinical study with randomization into two treatment groups. Each patient in the immunotherapy group was treated with subcutaneous specific immunotherapy. After patient recruitment, the serum IL-3, IL-11 and IgE levels and blood eosinophil and neutrophil counts and the frequency of influenza-like symptoms were recorded during a one-year follow up. Results: A large percentage of patients in the control group had flu symptoms compared to those in the immunotherapy group. The median serum IL-3 and the IL-11 levels were significantly higher in the immunotherapy group of patients compared to the control group. The median serum IgE level was significantly higher in the immunotherapy group of patients compared to the control group during second quarter of follow-up. Conclusion: The presence of influenza-like symptoms during allergen specific immunotherapy did not significantly change IL-3, IL-11 levels, neutrophil and eosinophil counts.

Background: Very limited information is available on the prevalence and risk factors of asthma in adolescents in Kosovo, and no study has previously addressed the role of Human Development Index (HDI) on asthma in the region. The present study addresses these two issues.Methods: Following the Global Asthma Network (GAN) methodology, a cross-sectional survey, through standardised self-completed questionnaires, was conducted in the following six centres of Kosovo: Ferizaj, Gjakova, Gjilan, Peja, Prishtina and Prizren. Current asthma symptoms (CAS) and severe current asthma symptoms (sCAS) were defined according to the GAN standards. Environmental questionnaire inquired about gender, exercise, screening time, siblings, truck traffic, use of paracetamol, pet ownership, and smoking habits. Height and weight were also measured. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed in each centre along with meta-analyses to summarise the overall effects of each factor in the centres as a whole. Meta-regression of the prevalence rates was calculated using HDI as a moderator.Results: Participation rate was high (80.0–99.9%). Prevalence of CAS ranged from 4.6% to 11.3%, and sCAS from 1.7% to 4.5%. Factors associated with CAS were exercise, computer time, paracetamol use and dog ownership. sCAS was associated with paracetamol use and physical exercise. HDI explained 46% and 80% of prevalence variability of CAS and sCAS between centres, respectively.Conclusions: Prevalence of CAS and sCAS in Kosovo varies highly between centres. This variability is explained partly by HDI. Individual risk factors are common, with some determined inother studies conducted in other regions.

Introduction: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory airway disease characterized by episodes of airway narrowing leading to manifestations of symptoms such as wheeze, shortness of breath, chest tightness and cough, that may resolve spontaneously or following treatment. Aim: The aim of this paper was to present the collected data related to the prevalence of self-reported respiratory symptoms, asthma, and use of asthma medication among school children aged 13-14 years from the city of Gjilan, a municipality located in southeast Kosovo. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study realized during the year 2018 as a part of the Project of Global Asthma Network (GAN) Phase I. The study elaborated randomly selected sample of 1200 school children from the city of Gjilan, in the southeast of Kosovo. The mean age was 13.4±0.51 with median IQR=13 (13-14). About 618 (51.5%) were male and 582 (48.5%) were female with the relation between the genders of 1:1.1. The percentage difference between the genders was not statistically significant (Difference test: Difference 3% [(-0.99-6.99) CI 95%]; Chi-square=2.159; df=1 p=0.1417). The prevalence of wheezing/ whistling in the chest EVER and the last 12 months was 12.7% vs. 6.4% respectively with no significant association between gender and symptoms (p>0.05) (Table 1). About 1132 (94.3%) had no attacks of wheezing in the last 12 MONTHS, 59 (4.9%) had 1-3 attacks, 7 (0.6%) had 4-12 attacks and 2 (0.2%) had>12 attacks. The analysis did not indicate a significant association between gender and the frequency of wheezing attacks (none / 1-3 / ≥ 4) for Pearson Chi-square: 2.5501; df=2; p=0.2801. Conclusion: This study has found moderately low asthma prevalence among adolescents in the southeast region of Kosovo, with no significant association between genders. Although, should be considered as an urgent need the proper examination, because asthma seems to be under-diagnosed and also untreated. It's possible that doctors in our country hesitate to diagnose asthma or the parents themselves and the children deny it.

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Objective: The goal of this study was to investigate the gender difference in manifestation of clinical symptoms related to allergic rhinitis and eczema in a population of school children aged 13-14 years from the city of Gjilan in Kosovo. Material and method: About 1200 school children aged between 13-14 years, from randomly selected schools, were included in the study, once the passive consent of their parents/guardians had been received. This study covers the data analysis from the questions related to the nose and skin problems (14 out of 53 questions). Results: Prevalence related to allergic rhinitis; a) sneezing, or a runny or blocked nose ever was 34.20% and in the last 12 months it was 25%; and b) hay fever ever was 14.5%. Prevalence related to eczema,; a) itchy rash at any time in the past 12 months was 7.5%; and b) eczema ever in life was 4.2%. Conclusion: This study found a higher prevalence of allergic rhinitis symptoms in female children comparing to male, while no significant connection was found between gender and eczema symptoms.

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