Prevalence of asthma and allergic diseases in children aged 6-7 in the kingdom of Bahrain

Abstract EN

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of asthma, rhinitis and eczema symptoms in school children aged 6-7 years.

Besign: A cross-sectional study of randomly selected primaty schools for children.Setting: Government and private primary schools in Bahrain.

Method: A standardized ISAAC-validated ^bic-translated questionnaire was distributed to 3,000 students aged 6-7 years in 18 primary schools which was to be completed by parents or guardians.

Resuits: 1,95ل questionnaires were completed.

Participants included 1,094 males (56.1%) and 857 (43.9%) females.

The prevalence of asthma was 10.8%, allergic rhinitis, 16.5% and eczema, 9.8%.

The prevalence rates for physician-diagnosed asthma were greater in males سه %3.3ا females 8.7% [Cl (1.8-7.4)].

Symptoms of sneezing or blocked nose showed male gender predominance (18.3%) in comparison to females (14.2%) [Cl (0.77-7.5)].

Ever diagnosed hay fever also followed the same pattern of a male predominance of5.4% in comparison to 3.3% in females [Cl (0.24-3.9)].

Female predominance was found in prevalence ofitchy rash, 12.5% in comparison to males (8.5%) [Cl (-6.9 to -1.2)].

58.6% had symptoms of allergic rhinitis with a significant peak in the winter season [Cl (50.9-66.3)], only 11.2%, had symptoms in the summer season [Cl (6.48-16.4)].

Conciusion: Prevalence of asthma, rhinitis and eczema symptoms found in this study were all similar to those reported in other Gulf neighboring countries; with a significant male predominance found in asthma and rhinitis, but not in atopic eczema.