Evaluation of allergic symptoms prevalence and its relationship with acetaminophen antibiotic use and hospitalization among school-aged children in Tehran, Iran

الملخص EN

Background: Increasing of childhood allergic diseases throughout the world and its heavy socioeconomic burden have posed an important health concern.

Therefore, providing the updated relevant epidemiological information is robustly recommended.

Objectives: The study aimed to determine the prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinitis (AR), and eczema symptoms in primary school children aged 6 - 7 years and ascertain the association of acetaminophen use, antibiotic consumption, and hospitalization for respiratory infection in early life with allergic symptoms.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study conducted on primary school children aged 6 - 7 years from May to July 2012 in Tehran (Iran), a total of 4993 individuals took part.

Cluster sampling was used for random selection of primary schools.

Data were gathered by using a modified questionnaire of international study of asthma and allergies in childhood (ISAAC).

Then, the questionnaires were completed by parents of the children.

Results: The prevalence rates of current wheeze, wheeze ever, current itching rash, itchy rash ever, and rhinitis ever were found to be 19.64%, 27.49%, 8.95%, 8.28%, and 21.87%, respectively.

Physician-diagnosed asthma, eczema, and AR were reported in 4.32%, 7.29%, and 9.61% of children, respectively.

Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that antibiotic use was significantly associated with symptoms of allergic rhinitis (P = 0.001).

Also, the strongest association was found between asthma and atopic dermatitis symptoms and hospitalization due to respiratory infection in early life by multivariate analysis (P = 0.002 and P = 0.009, respectively).

Conclusions: This study determined the rising pattern of allergic symptoms in 6 - 7 year old children in Tehran.

Moreover, acetaminophen/antibiotic use and hospitalization due to respiratory infection in early life were detected as significant risk factors for the appearance of childhood allergic symptoms.