Prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinitis and dermatitis in primary school children in Uasin Gishu district, Kenya.
OBJECTIVE
To establish the relative increase in the prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema in primary school children aged 13-14 years over a six year interval.


METHODS
Cross sectional comparative study.


METHODS
Primary schools in three rural divisions at Uasin Gishu district in the Rift Valley Province of Kenya.


METHODS
Three thousand two hundred and fifty eight children aged 13-14 years from seventy two primary schools in Uasin Gishu district were studied using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire. All children in the selected schools in this age range whose parents gave consent were included.


RESULTS
There were 47.4% males and 52.6% females as compared to 48.7% and 51.3% respectively in 1995. The cumulative prevalence for wheezing, rhinitis, itchy eyes and dermatitis was 23.6%, 43%, 24.1% and 28.5% respectively which were higher than for 1995 which were 21.2%, 32.4%, 11.8% and 13.8% respectively (p = 0.001). The period prevalence rates for wheezing, rhinitis and eczema were 13.8%, 31.4% and 21.3% respectively as compared to 10.2%, 25.3% and 14.4% respectively for 1995 (p = 0.001). The prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema was 12.6%, 38.6% and 28.5% respectively in 2001 compared to 6.6%, 14.9% and 13.9% respectively in 1995 (p = 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
There was a significant increase in the prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema in children in the study population over the last six years.
Esamai
F
F
Department of Child Health and Paediatrics, Faculty of Health Sciences Moi Universty, P.O. Box 4606 Eldoret, Kenya.
Ayaya
S
S
Nyandiko
W
W
D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003872:Dermatitis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004485:Eczema / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires