title: Trends in the prevalence and severity of symptoms of asthma, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, and atopic eczema.
abstract: The increase in prevalence of asthma and other allergic diatheses has rarely been documented in the developing sub-Saharan countries. We assessed time trends in symptoms of asthma, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, and atopic eczema among children in Ibadan, Nigeria, with cross-sectional data from 2 International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire-based surveys conducted 7 years apart in 1995 and in 2001-2002. The prevalence of current wheeze increased nonsignificantly in the 6- to 7-year age group (4.8%-5.5%) and significantly in the 13- to 14-year age group (10.7%-13.0%) (p = .249 and p = .005, respectively). The 12-month prevalence of allergic rhinoconjuctivitis decreased insignificantly in the 6- to 7-year age group (p = .833) but significantly in the 13- to 14-year age group (p = .001), while the diagnosis of atopic eczema decreased in both age groups. The current findings suggest that the symptoms of asthma have only increased significantly in the Nigerian adolescents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. afalade33@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Adegoke G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Falade
authors.forename: Olusoji M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Ige
authors.forename: Bidemi O
authors.initials: BO
authors.lastname: Yusuf
authors.forename: Modupe O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Onadeko
authors.forename: Babatunde O
authors.initials: BO
authors.lastname: Onadeko
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires