Prevalence of asthma and comorbid allergy symptoms in Singaporean preschoolers.
The cross-sectional prevalence of wheeze, rhinitis and eczema in 7,549 randomly selected Singaporean preschoolers aged 4 to 6 years old is reported in this study. Cumulative and past 12 months ('current') prevalence of wheeze was 27.5% and 16.0%, respectively. 'Asthma' was reported by 11.7%. Current rhinitis prevalence was 25.3% and rhinoconjunctivitis, 7.6%. Current chronic rash affected 13.5% of subjects while 9.9% reported chronic rash with flexural distribution. After multivariate analysis, the main risk factors for 'current wheeze' and self-reported asthma, respectively, were family history of allergy (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 3.22 [2.79-3.71], aOR 3.93 [3.34-4.63]); concurrent rhinoconjunctivitis (aOR 4.04 [3.31-4.92], aOR 3.02 [2.43-3.76]); concurrent chronic flexural rash (aOR 2.56 [2.13-3.08], aOR 2.95 [2.41-3.62]) and previous respiratory infection (aOR 4.80 [4.17-5.53], aOR 3.28 [2.80-3.85]). Thus, these allergy-associated symptoms already affect a considerable portion of children by the preschool years, supporting the need for allergy education and intervention program in this age group.
Tan
Teng Nging
TN
Department of Paediatrics, National University of Singapore.
Shek
Lynette P
LP
Goh
Daniel Y T
DY
Chew
Fook Tim
FT
Lee
Bee Wah
BW
D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003231:Conjunctivitis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004485:Eczema / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009017:Morbidity; D015995:Prevalence; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology