Hay fever, eczema, and wheeze: a nationwide UK study (ISAAC, international study of asthma and allergies in childhood)
Jane B Austina, Balvinder Kaurb, H Ross Andersonb, Michael Burrc, Leigh S Harkinsb, David P Strachanb, John O Warnerd
a Department of Child
Health, Highland Primary Care NHS Trust, Royal Northern Infirmary,
Inverness IV3 5SF, UK, b Department of Public Health Sciences, St
George's Hospital Medical School, Cranmer Terrace, Tooting, London SW17 0RE, UK, c Centre for Applied
Public Health Medicine, Temple of Peace and Health, Cathays Park,
Cardiff CF1 3NW, UK, d Southampton
General Hospital, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK
Correspondence to: Dr Austin.
Accepted 30 March 1999
OBJECTIVES
To describe
the prevalence of atopic symptoms in children throughout the UK.
METHODA questionnaire
survey of 12-14 year olds throughout England, Wales, Scotland, and the
Scottish Islands using the international study of asthma and allergies
in childhood (ISAAC) protocol.
RESULTSA total
of 27 507 (86%) children took part. Recent rhinoconjunctivitis was
reported by 18.2%, with 6.2% reporting symptoms between March and
September; 16.4% reported itchy flexural rash in the past 12 months.
The prevalence of atopic symptoms was higher in girls and subjects
born within the UK. The prevalence of severe wheeze was highest in
subjects reporting perennial rhinoconjunctivitis, as opposed to
summertime only symptoms. Winter rhinoconjunctivitis was associated
with severe wheeze and severe flexural rash. One or more current
symptoms were reported by 47.6% of all children and 4% reported all
three symptoms.
CONCLUSIONIn general,
geographical variations were small but the prevalence of symptoms was
significantly higher in Scotland and northern England. The study
demonstrates the importance of atopic diseases both in their own right
and in association with asthma.
Keywords: international study of asthma and allergies in childhood; hay fever; eczema; epidemiology; atopic disease
© 1999 by Archives of Disease in Childhood
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