title: Prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema in elementary schools in Sari (Iran).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Allergic diseases including asthma, allergic rhinitis (AR) and eczema are common chronic diseases in children. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of asthma, AR and eczema in Sari, Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was carried out on all elementary schools selected as a cluster from February 2010 to July 2010 in Sari, North of Iran. A questionnaire was provided according to International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) protocol. Asthma, AR, eczema and their combinations were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of the 1818 cases, 646 (35%) subjects had allergic disorder; 223 (12%) had asthma, 318 (17%) had AR and 105 (6%) had eczema The prevalence of allergic disorder in boys (65%) was higher than the girls (40%) (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results show that around one - third of the elementary school children have allergic disorders. The prevalence in males is higher than the females.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
authors.forename: Javad
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ghaffari
authors.affiliation: Non-Communicable Pediatrics Diseases Research Center, Amirkola Children's Hospital, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
authors.forename: Iraj
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mohammadzadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Statistics, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khalilian
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Houshang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rafatpanah
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
authors.forename: Hamid
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mohammadjafari
authors.affiliation: Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Davoudi
keywords: Allergic rhinitis; Asthma; Eczema.; Elementary school