Pediatrics & Neonatology
Volume 50, Issue 1 , Pages 18-25, February 2009

Prevalence of Childhood Allergic Diseases in Central Taiwan over the Past 15 Years

  • Pei-Fen Liao

      Affiliations

    • Division of Allergy, Asthma and Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Hai-Lun Sun

      Affiliations

    • Division of Allergy, Asthma and Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
    • School of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Ko-Hsiu Lu

      Affiliations

    • School of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Ko-Huang Lue

      Affiliations

    • Division of Allergy, Asthma and Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
    • School of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Division of Allergy, Asthma and Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, No. 110, Section 1, Chien-Kuo North Road, Taichung 402, Taiwan

Received 25 July 2007; received in revised form 13 August 2008; accepted 1 December 2008.

Article Outline

Background

The prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinitis and atopic eczema in children from the developed and developing countries has been increasing.

Methods

Three epidemiological surveys of the prevalence of bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis and atopic eczema in schoolchildren in Taichung, located in central Taiwan, were conducted in 1987, 1994, and 2002. The first questionnaire was used before the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) written questionnaire was developed; the last two surveys were modified using ISAAC questionnaires.

Results

A total of 37,801, 75,960, and 11,580 children were studied in 1987, 1994 and 2002, respectively. The prevalence of allergic diseases had increased in the past two decades. Results indicate that the prevalence of bronchial asthma had risen, from 2.19% in 1987, and 3.54% in 1994, to 6.99% in 2002. Regardless of sex, the prevalence of bronchial asthma decreased with increasing age. The prevalence of allergic rhinitis was 5.1% in 1987, 12.46% in 1987, and 27.59% in 2002, and the prevalence of atopic eczema was 1.10% in 1987, 1.88% in 1994, and 3.35% in 2002.

Conclusion

There has been a significant increase in the prevalence of bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis in Taichung schoolchildren from 1987 to 2002.

Key Words:  allergic rhinitis , asthma , atopic eczema , ISAAC , prevalence

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PII: S1875-9572(09)60025-5

doi:10.1016/S1875-9572(09)60025-5

Pediatrics & Neonatology
Volume 50, Issue 1 , Pages 18-25, February 2009

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