Evaluation of eczema, asthma, allergic rhinitis and allergies among the grade-7 children of Iqaluit ...

• Main Authors: Ahmed, Ahmed, Becker, Allan
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: My University 2019
• Subjects: Arctic; Nunavut; inuit; Iqaluit; Subarctic
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.20381/ruor-23433; https://ruor.uottawa.ca/handle/10393/39185

Abstract Background Little is known about the prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinitis, eczema and allergies among Canadian Inuit children, especially those living in the arctic and subarctic areas. Methods A cross-sectional study among grade seven students attending schools in Iqaluit, the capital city of Nunavut, was conducted during the 2016/2017 school year. We used the International Study of Allergy and Asthma in Children (ISAAC) questionnaire with added questions relevant to the population. In addition, skin prick tests (SPT) were conducted to test for sensitization to common food and environmental allergens. Results The prevalence of current asthma is 5.2%, all of them were males and 2/3 of them were Inuit and all had a previous respiratory hospitalization. Past asthma prevalence is 8.6%, 60% males and 60% Inuit. There was an inverse relationship to crowdedness possibly as a confounding factor because of getting a higher prevalence among the non-Inuit who usually live in less crowded houses. Current ...