title: Prevalence and associated risk factors of allergic rhinitis in preschool children in Beijing.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the prevalence of allergic rhinitis (AR) and its associated risk factors in preschool children in Beijing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two-stage, clustered, stratified random sample study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Parents of 4,075 children aged 3, 4, and 5 years in urban and suburban areas were surveyed using a questionnaire. A random subgroup of 1,067 children was examined by otolaryngologists with skin prick test (SPT).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The survey response rate was 98.3%. Based on the criteria published by ARIA document, the prevalence of epidemiologic AR was 48% (53.2% in urban areas; 43.4% in suburban areas). Among 795 children with epidemiologic AR, sensitization to common inhalant allergens was confirmed by a positive SPT in 248 children (31.2%). Thus, the adjusted prevalence of clinical AR was 14.9% (19.5% in urban areas; 10.8% in suburban areas). In these AR children, 166 (67.1%) were intermittent and 82 (32.9%) persistent, with moderate/severe symptoms in 103 (41.5%). The most common inhalant allergens were Alternaria tenuis (55.7%), followed by Dermatophagoides farina (39.4%), and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (38.6%). Both asthma (adjusted OR 4.88, 95% CI: 3.48-6.86) and eczema (adjusted OR: 1.49, 95% CI: 1.15-1.94) appear to be significant concomitant risk factors for AR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of AR in young children can be overestimated using epidemiologic criteria. AR is a common disease in Asian preschool children, with an increasing trend as children get older, and is higher in urban than suburban areas--suggesting an important role for environmental risk factors in AR.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, PR China. yameizhang25@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Ya-Mei
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Shi-Lin
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Su-Na
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xin-Xin
authors.initials: XX
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Feng-Xin
authors.initials: FX
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: De-Yun
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012882:Skin Tests; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens