Evaluation of eczema, asthma, allergic rhinitis and allergies among the Grade-1 children of Iqaluit ...

• Main Authors: Ahmed, Ahmed, Hakim, Amir, Becker, Allan
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: figshare 2018
• Subjects: Medicine; Genetics; FOS: Biological sciences; Molecular Biology; Biotechnology; Immunology; FOS: Clinical medicine; Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified; Science Policy; Infectious Diseases; FOS: Health sciences; Arctic; Nunavut; inuit; Iqaluit; Subarctic
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.4016446.v1; https://springernature.figshare.com/collections/Evaluation_of_eczema_asthma_allergic_rhinitis_and_allergies_among_the_Grade-1_children_of_Iqaluit/4016446/1

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 1 students attending schools in Iqaluit, the capital of Nunavut, was conducted during the 2015/2016 school year. We used the International Study of Allergy and Asthma in Children questionnaire with added questions relevant to the population. In addition, skin prick tests were conducted to test for sensitization to common food and environmental allergens. Results The prevalence of current asthma was 15.9% (>Â 2:1 males) with the highest prevalence among those with any non-Inuit heritage at 38.5%. The prevalence of current and past allergic rhinitis was 6.8%, also predominant among males, with the lowest prevalence among the mixed ethnicity. Home crowdedness was inversely related to past asthma. Being ever outside Nunavut was associated with higher prevalence of current ...