title: Allergy sensitization and asthma among 13-14 year old school children in Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prevalence of asthma and role of atopy in asthma among children has not been clearly defined in Nigeria.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of asthma and investigate risk factors related to allergy sensitization among urban and rural school children in southwest Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Validated ISAAC questionnaire was administered to 1736 high school children in randomly selected schools in rural and urban communities. Identified asthma cases were matched to controls. Allergy skin tests, blood eosinophil count, serum IgE and stool examination for parasites were performed. Dust samples from homes were also collected and analyzed for allergens.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of asthma was 7.5% (95% CI 6.0 to 9.2%) and 8% (95% CI 6.0-10.4%) in the rural and urban communities respectively . Risk factors for asthma included cigarette-smoking, cats in the home and family size. Eosinophil count (109/L) was elevated in asthmatics [0.70 (95% CI 0.48-1.11) vs. 0.32 (95% CI 0.19-0.69); p<0.01], but IgE levels were similar between the two groups (298±229 IU/mL vs. 288±257; p=0.97). Positive skin tests to cat hair, cockroach, mango blossom and mouse epithelium were more frequent in asthmatics than in healthy controls, especially in the rural communities. There was no correlation between allergens in dust collected from homes and skin test reactivity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Asthma prevalence is similar in rural and urban children in Southwest Nigeria and atopy with elevated IgE was not observed to be a major factor for asthma in our cohort of children in both communities.
authors: The Center for Global Health Initiative, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors: O
authors: O
authors: Oluwole
authors: O G
authors: OG
authors: Arinola
authors: G A
authors: GA
authors: Falade
authors: M O
authors: MO
authors: Ige
authors: G A
authors: GA
authors: Falusi
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Aderemi
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Huo
authors: I O
authors: IO
authors: Olopade
authors: C O
authors: CO
authors: Olopade
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D012882:Skin Tests; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D004391:Dust; D007073:Immunoglobulin E
keywords: Asthma; atopy; children; prevalence; risk factors; sensitization
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