Prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema among Lebanese adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
Studies on allergic diseases remain scarce in Lebanon. The aim of the present study was to determine prevalence and characteristics of asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema among Lebanese school children.


METHODS
The study was cross-sectional in design performed on a convenient sample of 3,115 students (13-14 yr) selected from 13 schools in 5 Lebanese provinces. Students were asked to complete the Arabic version of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire. Logistic regression was performed to assess the characteristics of having asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema in the past year.


RESULTS
The prevalence of ever having asthma, rhinitis and eczema was 8.3%, 45.2% and 12.8% respectively, while the prevalence of the symptoms of these diseases in the past year was 24.1%, 38.6% and 20.9%, respectively. Residing in the South and the North provinces of Lebanon and living in a busy area increased the likelihood of developing asthma and rhinitis. Higher rates of asthma and eczema, however, was noted among students going to private schools (Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.6, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.3-2.1 and OR = 1.3, 95% CI: 1.0-1.7, respectively). Passive smoking was significantly associated with asthma only (OR = 1.3, 95% CI: 1.1-1.7). In addition to the above, the odds of having any of the three outcomes increases to at least 2.4-fold when accompanied by another allergic disease.


CONCLUSIONS
Allergic diseases are highly prevalent in Lebanon and are catching up with the rates of developed countries. Moreover, the role of each of the three diseases in the existence of the other two had the greatest impact on their prevalence.
Musharrafieh
Umayya
U
Department of Family Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
Al-Sahab
Ban
B
Zaitoun
Fares
F
El-Hajj
Maria Atoui
MA
Ramadan
Fuad
F
Tamim
Hala
H
D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004485:Eczema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007861:Lebanon / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D011336:Probability; D011379:Prognosis; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires