title: Prevalence and comorbidity of allergic diseases in preschool children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Allergic disease and its comorbidities significantly influence the quality of life. Although the comorbidities of allergic diseases are well described in adult populations, little is known about them in preschool children. In the present study, we aimed to assess the prevalence and comorbidity of allergic diseases in Korean preschool children.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a cross-sectional study comprising 615 Korean children (age, 3 to 6 years). Symptoms of allergic diseases were assessed using the Korean version of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire that was modified for preschool children. Comorbidities of allergic diseases were assessed by 'In the last 12 months, has your child had symptoms?'.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of symptoms of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis as recorded using the ISAAC questionnaire, within the last 12 months was 13.8%, 40.7%, and 20.8%, respectively. The symptom rates of allergic conjunctivitis, food allergy, and drug allergy were 14.8%, 10.4%, and 0.8%, respectively. The prevalence of allergic rhinitis in children with asthma was 64.3% and that of asthma in children with allergic rhinitis was 21.6%. The prevalence of rhinitis in children with conjunctivitis was 64.8% and that of conjunctivitis in children with rhinitis was 23.6%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of current rhinitis in our preschool children is shown to be higher than that previously reported. Allergic conjunctivitis is closely associated with asthma and allergic rhinitis. However, further studies are warranted to determine the prevalence and effects of these comorbidities on health outcomes in preschool children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Bundang Jesaeng General Hospital, Seongnam, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyeong Yun
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Eun Byul
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Ji Hyeon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.forename: Youn Ho
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Hye Yung
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Yum
authors.forename: Hye Mi
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Jee
authors.forename: Jung Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Man Yong
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Han
keywords: Allergic rhinitis; Asthma; Comorbidity; Preschool child; Prevalence
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