Geographical variations of asthma and asthma symptoms among schoolchildren aged 5 to 8 years and 12 to 15 years in Palestine: the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC)

doi:10.1016/S1081-1206(10)63616-2

Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology

Volume 90, Issue 1, January 2003, Pages 63-71

https://doi.org/10.1016/S1081-1206(10)63616-2 Get rights and content

Background

Many studies demonstrated the existence of geographic differences, within and between countries, in the prevalence of asthma, rhinitis, and eczema. However, in Palestine, there are no comprehensive Palestinian data to compare with those from other regional and international centers.

Objective

To describe the prevalence of asthma and asthma symptoms in schoolchildren in two districts (Ramallah and North Gaza) in Palestine.

Methods

After a two-stage stratified systematic sampling, approximately 14,500 schoolchildren, from the first and second grades of elementary school (ages 5 to 8 years) and eighth and ninth school grades (ages 12 to 15 years), were invited to participate in a survey using International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood phase III questionnaires and protocols.

Results

In general, younger children were reported to have a higher 12-month wheezing prevalence rate than older children (9.6 and 7.2%, respectively), and more physician-diagnosed asthma (8.4 and 5.9%, respectively). However, nocturnal cough and exercise-related wheezing were higher in the older age group compared with younger children. Younger children living in North Gaza district showed slightly higher prevalence rates for asthma and asthma symptoms, but older children had higher rates in Ramallah district. After adjustment using logistic regression analysis, male sex, living in inland areas, and younger age were shown to predict 12-month wheezing and physician-diagnosed asthma.

Conclusions

Palestinian children have asthma symptoms rates that are similar to several countries in the Mediterranean region such as Spain and Turkey, but still lower than other Middle East countries such as Saudi Arabia and Israel.

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: This study was supported by Al-Quds University, the Operational Research Laboratory for Health and Nutrition-Palestine, the International Study for Asthma and Allergies (ISAAC), Directorate General for International Cooperation (DGIC-DGCI), and Belgian Technical Cooperation (BTC-CTB)- Belgium.

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ORIGINAL ARTICLESGeographical variations of asthma and asthma symptoms among schoolchildren aged 5 to 8 years and 12 to 15 years in Palestine: the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC)

Background

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Lancet

Chest

Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol

Lancet

Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol

Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol

J Allergy Clin Immunol

J Allergy Clin Immunol

Hay fever, eczema, and wheeze: a nationwide UK study (ISAAC, international study of asthma and allergies in childhood)

Arch Dis Child

Prevalence of atopy, asthma symptoms and diagnosis, and the management of asthma: comparison of an affluent and a non-affluent country

Thorax

The increase in asthma can be ascribed to cleanliness

Am J Respir Crit Care Med

Primary prevention of asthma

Curr Opin Pulm Med

Determinants of asthma in a farming population

Scand J Work Environ Health

Genetic risk for asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis

Arch Dis Child

Interactions between genes and environmental factors in asthma and atopy: new developments

Respir Res

Family size, infection and atopy: the first decade of the “hygiene hypothesis.”

Thorax

Prevalence of asthma symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment in 12–14 year old children across Great Britain (international study of asthma and allergies in childhood, ISAAC UK)

BMJ

Childhood asthma in four countries: a comparative survey

Int J Epidemiol

Prevalence of asthma in 13–14 yr-old schoolchildren across Israel

Eur Respir J

Changing prevalence of asthma in Australian children

BMJ

Geographical and socioeconomic variation in the prevalence of asthma symptoms in English and Scottish children

Thorax

Respiratory symptoms questionnaire for asthma epidemiology: validity and reproducibility

Thorax

How much asthma is really attributable to atopy?

Thorax

Wheezing in relation to atopy and environmental factors in Estonian and Swedish schoolchildren

Clin Exp Allergy

ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Geographical variations of asthma and asthma symptoms among schoolchildren aged 5 to 8 years and 12 to 15 years in Palestine: the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC)