Elementary-School Survey of Allergic Rhinitis and Conjunctivitis in Osaka

Abstract

Despite increasing pediatric allergy related disease, school staff support appears to be poor. We examined the prevalence and status of allergic diseases, using an Osaka Medical Association questionnaire focusing on allergic rhinitis AR and allergic conjunctivitis AC. Questionnaires returned by 113 school nurses indicated a 7 2% AR and 4 2% AC prevalence. Children with AR and/or AC reporting problems in school totaled 26%. These included nervous caused by allergy symptoms, sleepiness and study difficulties due to side effects of medication, and the worsening of symptoms. School nurses apparently did not address antigen avoidance sufficiently, however a trend particularly apparent in school nurses not experiencing AR. It is thus clear that school staff mush cooperate more extensively with health care professionals to implement a system of support for allergic children.