Pediatr Allergy Respir Dis.  2011 Dec;21(4):285-293.

The Environmental and Educational Management Effects of Atopic Dermatitis in a Seoul Elementary School

• Yoon SH
• Jeong YC
• Choi JH
• Baek HS
• Oh JW
• Ahn DH
• Lee HB

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was conducted to address a school-based program to properly manage atopic dermatitis in school children.
METHODS
A modified Korean version of written questionnaires from the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood was completed by the parents of 125 first-grade children. Skin prick tests (SPTs) for nine common inhalants and food allergens were performed. Air cleaners, HEPA vacuum cleaners, wet blackboards, and wet towels were used to clean the floor in the classroom. Students and their parents participated in school-based educational programs about atopic dermatitis. A follow-up questionnaire and SPTs were performed at 6 months after improving the classroom conditions. Indoor air quality was measured at the 3 months interval in July and September of the same year after the school-based program.
RESULTS
The prevalence of "itchy eczema ever" and a "diagnosis of atopic dermatitis, within the last 12 months" was 26.4% and 12.0%, respectively. Eleven students (34.4%) showed positive results among 32 students who were examined with SPTs. All children who showed positive results were sensitized with house dust mites. After the environmental change, the prevalence of "itchy eczema within the last 6 months" and "diagnosis of atopic dermatitis within the last 6 months" was 14.7% and 7.8%, respectively. Skin reactivity assessed by mean wheal diameter decreased. Measured indoor air quality values improved in all classrooms by September.
CONCLUSION
School-based environmental changes and educational programs including a partnership among home, school, society, and the public health care center could be applied to better manage atopic dermatitis in school children.

Keyword

School-Based Program; Atopic Dermatitis; Education

MeSH Terms

Air Pollution, Indoor
Allergens
Asthma
Child
Dermatitis, Atopic
Eczema
Floors and Floorcoverings
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Hypersensitivity
Parents
Prevalence
Public Health
Pyroglyphidae
Surveys and Questionnaires
Skin
Vacuum
Allergens

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Modified International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood written Questionnaires were conducted before (A) and 6 months after (B) school-based better management programs.

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  Fig. 2. The results of skin prick tests. Number of sensitized allergens (A) and mean wheal diameter (B) in before and after the environmental change (P <0.05).

Reference

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