High prevalence of allergic diseases and sensitization in a low allergen country.
To access publisher full text version of this article. Please click on the hyperlink in Additional Links field BACKGROUND: The prevalence of adult atopic diseases in Iceland is lower than in other West European countries, despite an affluent lifestyle, but limited data are available on children. The...
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ftlandspitaliuni:oai:www.hirsla.lsh.is:2336/41680 2023-05-15T16:46:44+02:00 High prevalence of allergic diseases and sensitization in a low allergen country. Clausen, Michael Kristjansson, Sigurdur Haraldsson, Asgeir Björkstén, Bengt Children's Hospital Iceland, Landspitali-University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland. mc@landspitali.is 2008-12-02 http://hdl.handle.net/2336/41680 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1651-2227.2008.00887.x en eng Taylor & Francis http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1651-2227.2008.00887.x Acta Paediatr. 2008, 97(9):1216-20 0803-5253 18631343 doi:10.1111/j.1651-2227.2008.00887.x http://hdl.handle.net/2336/41680 Acta paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992) Air Pollution Indoor Allergens Animals Domestic Child Cross-Sectional Studies Genetic Predisposition to Disease Hypersensitivity Iceland Immunization Prevalence Questionnaires Risk Factors Skin Tests Tobacco Smoke Pollution Article 2008 ftlandspitaliuni https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1651-2227.2008.00887.x 2022-05-29T08:21:12Z To access publisher full text version of this article. Please click on the hyperlink in Additional Links field BACKGROUND: The prevalence of adult atopic diseases in Iceland is lower than in other West European countries, despite an affluent lifestyle, but limited data are available on children. The main aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of atopic diseases and sensitivity to common allergens in 10- to 11-year-old Icelandic schoolchildren as part of phase II of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Children (ISAAC). METHODS: Nine hundred and forty-six children and their parents answered a questionnaire about atopic diseases. Skin prick tests with six allergens were performed on 773 children and they were examined for signs of atopic dermatitis (AD). RESULTS: The 12-month prevalence of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma was 11.5% and 8.9% respectively. The reported prevalence of AD was 27%, but only 9.2% had signs when inspected. A positive skin prick test (SPT) was found in 24.4% of the children, that is 18.8% to grass, 12.9% to cat, 3.6% to trees, 3.0% to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, 1.4% to D. farinae and 0.5% to Alternaria. CONCLUSION: The high prevalence of atopic diseases in children at 10-11 years is surprising, as the prevalence in adults is low in Iceland. The findings resemble those in developing countries. Iceland has had an affluent lifestyle for a considerable time, but the absence of dust mites, low pet ownership and relatively low pollen counts in the country raise doubts about the role of exposure levels in the development of sensitization and atopic diseases. Article in Journal/Newspaper Iceland Hirsla - Landspítali University Hospital research archive Acta Paediatrica 97 9 1216 1220 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Hirsla - Landspítali University Hospital research archive |
op_collection_id |
ftlandspitaliuni |
language |
English |
topic |
Air Pollution Indoor Allergens Animals Domestic Child Cross-Sectional Studies Genetic Predisposition to Disease Hypersensitivity Iceland Immunization Prevalence Questionnaires Risk Factors Skin Tests Tobacco Smoke Pollution |
spellingShingle |
Air Pollution Indoor Allergens Animals Domestic Child Cross-Sectional Studies Genetic Predisposition to Disease Hypersensitivity Iceland Immunization Prevalence Questionnaires Risk Factors Skin Tests Tobacco Smoke Pollution Clausen, Michael Kristjansson, Sigurdur Haraldsson, Asgeir Björkstén, Bengt High prevalence of allergic diseases and sensitization in a low allergen country. |
topic_facet |
Air Pollution Indoor Allergens Animals Domestic Child Cross-Sectional Studies Genetic Predisposition to Disease Hypersensitivity Iceland Immunization Prevalence Questionnaires Risk Factors Skin Tests Tobacco Smoke Pollution |
description |
To access publisher full text version of this article. Please click on the hyperlink in Additional Links field BACKGROUND: The prevalence of adult atopic diseases in Iceland is lower than in other West European countries, despite an affluent lifestyle, but limited data are available on children. The main aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of atopic diseases and sensitivity to common allergens in 10- to 11-year-old Icelandic schoolchildren as part of phase II of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Children (ISAAC). METHODS: Nine hundred and forty-six children and their parents answered a questionnaire about atopic diseases. Skin prick tests with six allergens were performed on 773 children and they were examined for signs of atopic dermatitis (AD). RESULTS: The 12-month prevalence of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma was 11.5% and 8.9% respectively. The reported prevalence of AD was 27%, but only 9.2% had signs when inspected. A positive skin prick test (SPT) was found in 24.4% of the children, that is 18.8% to grass, 12.9% to cat, 3.6% to trees, 3.0% to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, 1.4% to D. farinae and 0.5% to Alternaria. CONCLUSION: The high prevalence of atopic diseases in children at 10-11 years is surprising, as the prevalence in adults is low in Iceland. The findings resemble those in developing countries. Iceland has had an affluent lifestyle for a considerable time, but the absence of dust mites, low pet ownership and relatively low pollen counts in the country raise doubts about the role of exposure levels in the development of sensitization and atopic diseases. |
author2 |
Children's Hospital Iceland, Landspitali-University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland. mc@landspitali.is |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Clausen, Michael Kristjansson, Sigurdur Haraldsson, Asgeir Björkstén, Bengt |
author_facet |
Clausen, Michael Kristjansson, Sigurdur Haraldsson, Asgeir Björkstén, Bengt |
author_sort |
Clausen, Michael |
title |
High prevalence of allergic diseases and sensitization in a low allergen country. |
title_short |
High prevalence of allergic diseases and sensitization in a low allergen country. |
title_full |
High prevalence of allergic diseases and sensitization in a low allergen country. |
title_fullStr |
High prevalence of allergic diseases and sensitization in a low allergen country. |
title_full_unstemmed |
High prevalence of allergic diseases and sensitization in a low allergen country. |
title_sort |
high prevalence of allergic diseases and sensitization in a low allergen country. |
publisher |
Taylor & Francis |
publishDate |
2008 |
url |
http://hdl.handle.net/2336/41680 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1651-2227.2008.00887.x |
genre |
Iceland |
genre_facet |
Iceland |
op_relation |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1651-2227.2008.00887.x Acta Paediatr. 2008, 97(9):1216-20 0803-5253 18631343 doi:10.1111/j.1651-2227.2008.00887.x http://hdl.handle.net/2336/41680 Acta paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992) |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1651-2227.2008.00887.x |
container_title |
Acta Paediatrica |
container_volume |
97 |
container_issue |
9 |
container_start_page |
1216 |
op_container_end_page |
1220 |
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1766036833725054976 |