Epidemiological trends of allergic diseases in adolescents

Abstract

Objective:To assess the prevalences of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and allergic rhinoconjunctivitis in adolescents in the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, in 2012 by administering the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire, as well as to compare the observed prevalences with those found in studies performed 10 years earlier and employing the same methodology used here. Methods:This was a cross-sectional study conducted between May and December of 2012 and involving adolescents in the 13- to 14-year age bracket. Participants were randomly selected from among adolescents studying at public schools in Belo Horizonte and completed the ISAAC questionnaire. Proportions were calculated in order to assess the prevalences of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and allergic rhinoconjunctivitis in the sample as a whole, and the chi-square goodness-of-fit test was used in order to compare the prevalences observed in 2012 with those found in 2002. Results:The prevalences of symptoms of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and allergic rhinoconjunctivitis in 2012 were 19.8%, 35.3%, and 16.3%, respectively, being significantly higher than those found in 2002 (asthma, p = 0.006; allergic rhinitis, p < 0.01; and allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, p = 0.002). Conclusions:The prevalences of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and allergic rhinoconjunctivitis among adolescents in 2012 were found to be high, having increased in comparison with those found 10 years earlier, despite efforts in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

Prevalence and associated factors of allergic diseases in school children and adolescents aged 6-7 and 13-14 years old from two rural areas in Colombia

“…Some authors state that the adolescents' perception of their own symptoms could be a better marker of an allergic disease compared with the parents' perception of symptoms of their children. 29 The higher prevalence of asthma symptoms in the adolescents included in this study could be explained by this phenomenon. It has been described that in tropical rural populations parasitic diseases can increase (Ascaris Lumbricoides) or decrease (Ancylostoma) the risk of asthma symptoms.…”

Reactividad cutánea en conjuntivitis alérgica

“…17 En estudios realizados en Brasil, Cuba, Guyana, México y Perú se han reportado prevalencias de síntomas de conjuntivitis o rinoconjuntivitis alérgicas que oscilan entre 0.3 y 39.2 %, con tendencia al incremento, predominando en el sexo masculino (66 a 72.5 %), excepto en Guyana (75 % en el sexo femenino), en las edades entre cinco y 19 años (29.5 a 68.5 %); las otras enfermedades alérgicas asociadas más reportadas fueron rinitis alérgica (16.3 a 60 %), asma (19.8 a 35.3 %) y dermatitis atópica (17 %). 18,19,20,21,22 En Colombia, los estudios no son numerosos. En ciudades como Barranquilla, Bogotá, Bucaramanga, Cali y Cartagena se han reportado prevalencias de conjuntivitis o rinoconjuntivitis alérgica que oscilan entre 1 y 21 %, de predominio en el sexo femenino (57.1 a 61 %), en las edades entre los siete y 15 años (> 50 %); las otras enfermedades alérgicas asociadas más reportadas fueron asma (3.8 a 29.8 %), rinitis alérgica (3.8 a 47.5 %) y dermatitis atópica (13 %).…”

Compreensão do termo alergia por profissionais na área da saúde: uma evidência lexical clara e concisa sobre um grande desafio na educação

“…In South America, there are few epidemiological studies, but the increasing prevalence of allergy in the world, including developing countries, has been suggested by WAO. In Brazil, a 2012 study using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire estimated that 35.3% of adolescents living in the city of Belo Horizonte could develop the most frequent allergic hypersensitivity, i.e., rhinitis 4 .…”