Prevalence of Asthma, Allergic Rhinitis and Atopic Dermatitis among 6-7 and 13-14-year-old Children in Oyama and Tochigi Cities, Japan

Abstract

Background: Past several decades, the escalation in the incidence of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis has manifested as a global health concern, affecting approximately 20% of the world's population.

Objective: Assessing the prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis in elementary grade 1 (6-7 years old) and junior high grade 1 and 2 (13-14 years old) students in Oyama and Tochigi cities, Japan.

Methods: A letter was sent to parents informing them about an opt-in online survey concerning children's allergies along with a weblink and a QR code. A video explaining the survey process and informed parents that their replies could not be retracted. Parents who had watched the explanation video and answered yes to participating were considered to have provided consent for the survey.

Results: We received 431 (16.5%) survey responses as well as 346 survey replies (6.3%) from the parents of grade 1 elementary and grade1-2 junior high school students. Prevalence of symptoms in past 12 months was: wheezing 10.7% and 3.2%, rhinitis 62.2% and 66.5%, rhinoconjunctivitis 33.9% and 45.7%, itchy rash in typical sites for atopic eczema 19.3% and 12.7% for 6-7 years old and 13-14 years old respectively.

Conclusions: There was an increase in incidence experienced by children for asthma and allergic rhinitis compared to a study conducted in similar locale. Two thirds of children have experienced allergic rhinitis. On the other hand, improvement in management and treatment of asthma may have led to a decrease in prevalence of wheezing in past 12 months.