Prevalence of Asthma, Eczema and Allergic Rhinitis Symptoms in School Children of Kathmandu Valley: Results of a Questionnaire Survey

Authors

  • Arun Kumar Sharma Department of Paediatrics, Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal
  • Sudha Basnet Department of Paediatrics, Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal
  • Surya B Thapa Department of Paediatrics, Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3126/jnps.v38i3.26305

Keywords:

asthma, allergic rhinitis, allergic rhino- conjunctivitis, eczema, ISAAC

Abstract

Introduction: Asthma is the most common chronic disease in children. This study was performed to determine the prevalence of asthma, eczema and allergic rhino-conjunctivitis symptoms in school children of Kathmandu.

Methods: This questionnaire-based survey was conducted from December 2009 to August 2010 in 13 schools of Kathmandu among children aged six to seven years and 13 to 14 years based on questions adapted from International Study on Asthma and Allergies in Children (ISAAC) and translated into Nepali. Data were analysed using SPSS and prevalence of self-reported asthma-like symptoms, eczema and allergic rhinitis were assessed.

Results: The questionnaire was distributed to 8269 children with a response rate of 68.54%. About 7.5% replied positively for "ever wheezed” (8.1% in older and 6.4% in young children) and 5.2% reported, "current wheeze" (4.2% in younger and 5.8% in older children). Boys had more frequent wheezing than girls in both age groups (p < 0.05). More children had nocturnal cough not associated with cold or chest infection (16.0%) and exercise-induced symptoms (9.4%). The overall prevalence of eczema was 6.2%; younger children (7.2%) reporting symptoms more commonly than older children (5.6%). The reported prevalence of allergic rhinitis was 28.2% (31.2% in older as compared to 22.9% in younger children). Allergic symptoms like “current wheeze”, “eczema” and “allergic rhinitis” were frequently reported together.

Conclusion: Asthma, eczema and allergic rhinitis are common in school children of Kathmandu. A multi-centre study across all ecological zones in both rural and urban settings including video questionnaire will more accurately estimate asthma prevalence and its trends in school children of Nepal.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.
Abstract
675
PDF
335
Cover JNPS

Downloads

Published

2018-12-31

How to Cite

Sharma, A. K., Basnet, S., & Thapa, S. B. (2018). Prevalence of Asthma, Eczema and Allergic Rhinitis Symptoms in School Children of Kathmandu Valley: Results of a Questionnaire Survey. Journal of Nepal Paediatric Society, 38(3), 163–169. https://doi.org/10.3126/jnps.v38i3.26305

Issue

Vol. 38 No. 3 (2018)

Section

Original Articles

License

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:

Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.

Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.

Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).