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Trends in Medical Research

Year: 2010 | Volume: 5 | Issue: 2 | Page No.: 57-62
DOI: 10.17311/tmr.2010.57.62
Decreased Prevalence of Allergic Rhinitis, Asthma and Eczema in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia
Harb Harfi, Kamel Al Abbad and Abbas H. Alsaeed

Abstract: Asthma and allergic disorders constitute the common chronic illnesses accounting for huge morbidity in school children worldwide. Current study aims to evaluate the prevalence of rates of asthma, eczema, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis along with food and drug allergy in school children of Riyadh and also to compare with data from previous studies of this region in order to understand their changing trends. Saudi children (1100) aged 6-14 years from Riyadh city, were enrolled and asked to fill Phase 1 model questionnaire of International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) with help of parents or nurses. The questionnaire also included the diagnosis of similar conditions among parents and first-degree relatives. 27.82% were found to be allergically sensitive, with high prevalence rates for allergic rhinitis, asthma and atopic dermatitis. The total prevalence of allergic rhinitis, asthma, eczema, food and drug allergies in the studied children were 12.7, 11.4, 5.6, 1.75 and 0.27%, respectively. Allergic rhinitis, asthma, eczema are reported to be dominantly prevalent in both parents and siblings of affected children. Decreased prevalence rate of allergic rhinitis, asthma, eczema among children is noted compared to earlier studies in this region. This study results can be helpful as a reference for further studies assessing the childhood allergies in this country.

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How to cite this article
Harb Harfi, Kamel Al Abbad and Abbas H. Alsaeed, 2010. Decreased Prevalence of Allergic Rhinitis, Asthma and Eczema in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia. Trends in Medical Research, 5: 57-62.

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