[Prevalence of allergic respiratory disorders and skin prick test in Beijing urban and suburban children: a comparative study].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the prevalence of allergic respiratory disorders and allergens in Beijing urban and suburban children.


METHODS
Using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood Phase III Protocol, a questionnaire survey was conducted among 7,077 junior middle school students, 3,531 males and 3,546 females, aged 13-14, of 11 urban schools and 10 suburban schools in Beijing by random cluster sampling. Skin prick test with 13 common allergens was conducted among 2,126 from the 7,077 students by random cluster sampling.


RESULTS
The prevalence rates of anamnestic asthma, asthma in recent 12 months, asthma after exercise in recent 12 months, and dry cough during night in recent 12 months were 12.4%, 7.2%, 25.6%, and 19.3% respectively in the urban students; all significantly higher than those in the suburban students (4.5%, 4.3%, 12.5%, and 8.3% respectively, all P < 0.01). The rates of anamnestic nasal symptoms without common cold, present nasal symptoms without common cold, and those nasal symptoms complicated with itching eyes and lacrimation were 41.6%, 35.6%, and 10.3% respectively in urban students, and 21.3% all significantly higher than those in the suburban students (21.3%, 12.3%, and 3.3% respectively, all P < 0.05). The positive rates of the 13 main allergens were significantly higher in the urban students than in the suburban students (all P < 0.01). The positive rate of Dermatophagoides farinae and D. pteronyssinus, cat hair, and Blatella germanica were 20.4%, 16.9%, 10.8%, and 11.0% respectively in the urban students, all significantly higher than those in the suburban students (3.7%, 2.7%, 3.7%, and 2.7% respectively, all P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence rates of allergic disorders have been increased in comparison with those in the last decade in Beijing junior middle school students, especially those in the urban area and may be due to the changes of environments and living styles.
Zhao
Jing
J
Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing 100020, China.
Ma
Yu
Y
Chen
Yu-zhi
YZ
Han
Zhi-rong
ZR
D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012882:Skin Tests