Environmental factors influencing the prevalence of respiratory diseases and allergies among schoolchildren in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Air quality has seriously deteriorated as a consequence of population growth and urbanisation and respiratory diseases increased among residents of urban areas in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. An International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) study was conducted among children attending schools located in the selected sites to assess the potential impacts of air pollution on health. The results showed that the prevalence of asthma was similar in all of the schools (approximately 5%; p = 1.000) but that the prevalence of rhinitis [24.3% (CI = 19.4-30.1) vs. 15.7% (CI = 10.3-23.0); p = 0.029] and atopic dermatitis [12.5% (CI = 9.1-16.8) vs. 7.2% (CI = 3.7-12.6); p = 0.093)] was higher in the urban schools, which were exposed to more pollution. Logistic regression analysis identified factors that may be involved, including air pollution, some components of the diet and contact with animals.
Sriyaraj
Kanyawat
K
GMS Environment Operations Center, Pathumwan, Bangkok, Thailand.
Priest
Nicholas
N
Shutes
Brian
B
D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects; D004485:Eczema / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population