title: Prevalence of and risk factors for the development of atopic dermatitis in schoolchildren aged 12-14 in northwest Croatia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atopic dermatitis is a common allergic disorder. A multifactorial background for atopic dermatitis has been suggested, with genetic as well as environmental factors influencing disease development. Our aim was to estimate the prevalence rate and associated factors for atopic dermatitis in northern Croatia using the methods of the internationally standardised ISAAC protocol.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was undertaken among 12-14-year-old schoolchildren. Data were collected using standardised ISAAC written questionnaire Phase One and some selected questions from the ISAAC supplementary questionnaire completed by parents.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 2887 children participated in the study. Estimated lifetime (ever) prevalence rate of atopic dermatitis symptoms was 7.55% and estimated 12-month prevalence rate was 5.75%. The factors found to be associated to the symptoms of atopic dermatitis ever were: positive family atopy, female gender, sleeping on feather pillow and contact with pets after age of seven, and to the symptoms in the past 12 months were: positive family atopy, female gender, sleeping on feather pillow, parasite infestation, and contact with pets in the first year of life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of our study show that northern Croatia is a region with moderate prevalence rates of atopic dermatitis. Following risk factors were family atopy, female gender and sleeping on feather pillow. Because of controversial results of previous studies conducted on the same topic further investigations should be made.
authors.affiliation: Department for Pulmonology and Allergology, Children's Hospital Srebrnjak, Reference Center for Clinical Pediatric Allergology of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Zagreb, Croatia. Electronic address: mhelena16@gmail.com.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Munivrana Skvorc
authors.affiliation: Research Department, Children's Hospital Srebrnjak, Reference Center for Clinical Pediatric Allergology of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Plavec
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Department, County Hospital Cakovec, Croatia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Munivrana
authors.affiliation: County Hospital Cakovec, Croatia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Skvorc
authors.affiliation: Principal of the Children's Hospital Srebrnjak, Reference Center for Clinical Pediatric Allergology of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nogalo
authors.affiliation: Department for Pulmonology and Allergology, Children's Hospital Srebrnjak, Reference Center for Clinical Pediatric Allergology of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Turkalj
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D017523:Croatia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires