title: Epidemiologic characteristics of rhinitis in Turkish children: the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) phase 2.
abstract: Rhinitis is a common problem with important comorbidities. In order to search the association between rhinitis, allergic phenotypes and other risk factors in Turkish children, a parental questionnaire about allergic diseases and risk factors, and skin prick test (SPT) with 13 inhalant allergens were performed in a population-based sample of 2774 children aged 9-11 yr. Bronchoprovocation testing with hypertonic saline (HS)and total IgE analysis were limited to a subsample of 350 children. Rhinitis was defined as a problem with sneezing, rhinorrhea, or nasal congestion when the child did not have a viral respiratory infection. The prevalences of ever rhinitis, current (last 12 months) rhinitis (CR), and ever hay fever were 36.3%, 30.6%, and 8.3%, respectively. SPT positivity rate was 20.4% among children with CR. Current wheezing and flexural dermatitis were significantly associated with CR. CR significantly increased the risk of asthma among both atopic and non-atopic subjects [odds ratio (OR), 3.98; 95% CI, 1.81-8.76; and OR, 2.79; 95% CI, 1.82-4.26, respectively]. The association between CR and bronchial hyperreactivity (BHR) was not significant. The multiple logistic regression analysis revealed family atopy (OR=2.25, 95% CI=1.79-2.83, p<0.001), current indoor heating with gas stove (OR=1.78, 95% CI=1.18-2.64, p=0.006) and dampness/molds at home during the first year of life (OR=1.70, 95% CI=1.25-2.31, p=0.001) as significant risk factors for CR. Turkish school children showed a high prevalence of rhinitis with a preponderance of non-atopics. The highly significant association between rhinitis and asthma independent of atopic sensitization emphasize the importance of non-atopic forms of rhinitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Allergy and Asthma, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Semanur
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kuyucu
authors.forename: Yildiz
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Saraçlar
authors.forename: Ayfer
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tuncer
authors.forename: Pinar Ozdemir
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Geyik
authors.forename: Gönül
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Adalioğlu
authors.forename: Akgül
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akpinarli
authors.forename: Bülent E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Sekerel
authors.forename: Vildan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sümbüloğlu
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012882:Skin Tests; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D007073:Immunoglobulin E