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Asthma and other atopic diseases in Australian children
Author(s) -
Robertson Colin F,
Dalton Marita F,
Peat Jennifer K,
Haby Michelle M,
Bawnan Adrian,
Kennedy J Declan,
Landau Louis I
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1998.tb139022.x
Subject(s) - asthma , medicine , pediatrics , family medicine , dermatology , immunology
Objective To determine the prevalence of asthma, eczema and allergic rhinitis in Australian schoolchildren using the protocol of the International Study of Asthma and Allergy in Childhood (ISAAC). Design Questionnaire‐based survey. Setting Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide (in winter‐spring, 1993) and Perth (in winter‐spring, 1994). Subjects All children in school years 1 and 2 (ages 6‐7 years) or in year 8 (ages 13‐14 years), attending a random sample of 272 schools, stratified by age and city. Main outcome measures Parent‐reported (for 6‐7 year olds) or self‐reported (for 13‐14 year olds) symptoms of atopic disease in the previous 12 months, or ever; treatment of asthma; and country of birth. Results 10914 questionnaires were completed for 6‐7 year olds and 12280 for 13‐14 year olds (84% and 94% response rates, respectively). Prevalence of wheeze in the past 12 months was 24.6% for the 6‐7 year olds and 29.4% for the 13‐14 year olds, and, among 6‐7 year olds, was significantly higher in boys (27.4%) than girls (21.7%). Children born in Australia were more likely to report current wheeze than those born elsewhere (6‐7 year olds: odds ratio [OR], 1.82; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.55‐2.15; and 13‐14 year olds: OR, 1.88; 95% CI, 1.68‐2.11). Prevalences of current eczema and allergic rhinitis were 10.9% and 12.0%, respectively, for the 6‐7 year olds, and 9.7% and 19.6%, respectively, for the 13‐14 year olds. Asthma, eczema and rhinitis coexisted in 1.8% of 6‐7 year olds and 2.8% of 13‐14 year olds. Conclusion This study provides evidence that asthma prevalence in Australian schoolchildren is continuing to increase and is higher among Australian‐born children than among those born elsewhere. Asthma, eczema and allergic rhinitis coexist to a lesser extent than expected. These results form the basis for future Australian and international comparisons.