The prevalence of asthma and allergic diseases in children of school age in Adana in southern Turkey.

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of asthma and other allergic disorders as well as the factors affecting these disorders in school-children in Adana. This cross-sectional population-based study using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) protocol was carried out on 3164 school-children aged between 6-18 years during March to June 1997. There were 1521 (48.1%) boys and 1643 (51.9%) girls. The prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema in the 6-18 year-old children was found to be 12.6%, 13.6% and 8.3%, respectively. The prevalence of asthma was highest in 6-10 year-old school-children (14.7%), and lowest (6.0%) in 15-18 year-old children. The prevalence of asthma diagnosed by a doctor was 5.0%. The cumulative and current prevalences of wheezing were found to be 19.0% and 13.5%, respectively. The cumulative prevalence of allergic disorders was found to be 23.4%. The presence of domestic animals at home and dampness of the home were found to be important risk factors for asthma. Family histories of asthma, eczema, and diagnosis made by a doctor, and history of frequent sinusitis were found to be significantly higher in asthmatics. In conclusion, asthma is an important chronic disease of childhood in Adana in southern Turkey.