title: Asthma and atopy in schoolchildren in a defined population.
abstract: We investigated the frequency of allergic disorders, the pattern of allergen sensitization and serum total IgE concentration in a population-based sample of schoolchildren screened on the basis of respiratory symptoms (N = 244). The children were classified on clinical grounds into three groups, asthma (N = 43), other symptoms from lower airways (OSLA; N = 34) and control children (N = 167). The frequency of allergic disorders (allergic rhinitis, conjunctivitis or dermatitis) differed significantly between children with asthma (81%), children with OSLA (62%) and in control children (48%) (p < 0.001). The presence of at least one positive skin prick test result was equally common in children with asthma or OSLA (77%), but lower in control children (40%) (p < 0.001). Serum total IgE concentrations did not differ between the three groups. Two conclusions can be drawn: (i) there is a strong association between clinical allergy, skin reactivity and asthma in school age children, and (ii) a similar association is present between allergy and asthma-like conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Kuopio University Hospital, Finland.
authors.forename: S T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Remes
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Korppi
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D012882:Skin Tests; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D007073:Immunoglobulin E