title: Comparison of positive allergy skin tests among asthmatic children from rural and urban areas living within small geographic area.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Evidence of increased asthma and allergic response among urban versus rural residents has been reported.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the prevalence of allergic response among asthmatic children from urban and rural areas living within close proximity.
  
  
  METHODS
  In all, 448 asthmatic children from urban (363) and rural (85) areas were studied. The study group consisted of 234 9-year-olds and 214 12-year-olds. A health questionnaire was completed on each child who subsequently underwent allergic skin prick tests (SPTs).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was significantly more positive SPT response to house-dust mite, mold, cat, and cypress among asthmatic children from urban areas compared with children living in rural areas: 58.3% versus 37.6%, 46.1% versus 31.8%, 17.45 versus 5.9%, and 26.2% versus 15.3%, respectively. Positive SPT for indoor allergens were significantly greater among asthmatic urban residents than asthmatic rural residents: 63.3% versus 45.5%, respectively (P < 0.02). Positive SPT response to all the allergens checked was higher among the 12-year-old age group when compared with the 9-year-olds, 34.6% versus 22.7%, respectively (P = 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Allergic response measured by SPT is significantly more common among asthmatic children from urban areas as opposed to rural, even though both areas are within small distance of one another. Further, asthmatic children living in urban areas demonstrated more allergic response to both indoor and outdoor allergens. The allergic response tends to increase with increased age in both urban and rural asthmatic children.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Barzilai Medical Center, Ashkelon, Israel. haim_76407@yahoo.com
authors: Haim
authors: H
authors: Bibi
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Shoseyov
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Feigenbaum
authors: Pnina
authors: P
authors: Nir
authors: Rosa
authors: R
authors: Shiachi
authors: Shimon
authors: S
authors: Scharff
authors: Ronit
authors: R
authors: Peled
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D019306:Artemisia; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D002415:Cats / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D003058:Cockroaches / Q000276:immunology; D029781:Cupressus; D005260:Female; D005658:Fungi / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008925:Mites / Q000276:immunology; D006109:Poaceae; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology; D012424:Rural Population; D012882:Skin Tests; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014197:Trees; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens