Korean J Asthma Allergy Clin Immunol.  2012 Jun;32(2):107-114.

Prevalence and Risk Factors for Allergic Diseases of Preschool Children Living in Seogwipo, Jeju, Korea

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Infants and young children have an increased risk of developing allergic diseases. However, there have been few epidemiologic surveys in preschool children. Therefore, we conducted a study of the prevalences and risk factors of allergic diseases in preschool children of Seogwipo, the Jeju Province.
METHODS
A modified "International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood Questionnaire," including environmental factors, was applied to 5,249 preschool children.
RESULTS
For asthma, the prevalences of "wheeze, ever", "wheeze, last 12 months", "diagnosis, ever" and "treatment, last 12 months" were 25.3%, 15.4%, 11.4% and 4.9%, respectively. For allergic rhinitis, the prevalences of "allergic rhinitis, ever", "allergic rhinitis, last 12 months", "diagnosis, ever" and "treatment, last 12 months" were 28.6%, 23.9%, 10.6% and 8.1%, respectively. For atopic dermatitis, the prevalences of "itchy eczema, ever", "itchy eczema, last 12 months", "diagnosis, ever" and "treatment, last 12 months" were 23.4%, 19.0%, 31.0% and 17.9%, respectively. The common risk factors for allergic diseases include a parental history of allergic diseases, movement to newly built or remodeled houses, high humidity of houses, and family members less than 4.
CONCLUSION
The prevalences of allergic diseases might be relatively lower in preschoolers living in Jeju than in those living in other regions in Korea. Parents' allergic diseases are one of the strong risk factors, followed by environments, including humidity, the type of housings and the number of family members.

MeSH Terms

Asthma
Child
Child, Preschool
Dermatitis, Atopic
Eczema
Humans
Humidity
Hypersensitivity
Infant
Korea
Parents
Prevalence
Rhinitis
Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial
Risk Factors