Prevalence, severity, and risk factors of allergic rhinitis among schoolchildren in Saudi Arabia: A national cross-sectional study, 2019
Background: Allergic rhinitis is a significant public health concern worldwide, affecting both developed and developing countries, with prevalence rates ranging between 10% and 30% in adults and over 40% in children. However, there are limited studies on allergic rhinitis prevalence in Saudi Arabia....
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-10-01
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| Series: | World Allergy Organization Journal |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1939455123000844 |
| _version_ | 1797637242973323264 |
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| author | Sawsan Alnahas Noura Abouammoh Wael Althagafi Eman Elsayed Abd-Ellatif |
| author_facet | Sawsan Alnahas Noura Abouammoh Wael Althagafi Eman Elsayed Abd-Ellatif |
| author_sort | Sawsan Alnahas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Allergic rhinitis is a significant public health concern worldwide, affecting both developed and developing countries, with prevalence rates ranging between 10% and 30% in adults and over 40% in children. However, there are limited studies on allergic rhinitis prevalence in Saudi Arabia. Objective: To explore allergic rhinitis among schoolchildren in Saudi Arabia in terms of prevalence, severity, and risk factors. Methods: This study was conducted between March and April 2019, covering 20 regions. The study employed a multistage, stratified cluster sampling approach and selected 137 primary and 140 intermediate schools. The research utilized the methodology and questionnaires recommended by the Global Asthma Network (GAN). Data analysis was carried out using IBM SPSS Statistics (Version 23). Results: The completed questionnaires in the analysis comprised 3614 children aged 6–7 years old and 4068 adolescents aged 13–14 years old. The study found that 5.6% of children and 14.0% of adolescents reported current rhinoconjunctivitis, with 0.5% of children and 1.3% of adolescents experiencing severe symptoms. Several risk factors were significantly associated with rhinoconjunctivitis. In children 6–7 years old, eating cooked vegetables was inversely associated with rhinoconjunctivitis, while prematurity, wheezing in infancy, and a history of pneumonia were positively associated with the condition. In adolescents, vigorous physical activity, current exposure to cats, and frequent use of paracetamol were found to be the main risk factors associated with rhinoconjunctivitis, while high consumption of pulses and eggs was found to have a protective effect. Conclusion: In Saudi Arabia, the prevalence of rhinoconjunctivitis in children is lower than average globally, but among adolescents, it is within the global average range. However, the prevalence of severe rhinoconjunctivitis among adolescents is twice the global average. Further research is required to examine regional differences, track trends over time, and explore risk factors that contribute to allergic rhinitis. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T12:46:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3c41da11262441e3936a6f506ddab8d4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1939-4551 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T12:46:28Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | World Allergy Organization Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-3c41da11262441e3936a6f506ddab8d42023-11-05T04:05:27ZengElsevierWorld Allergy Organization Journal1939-45512023-10-011610100824Prevalence, severity, and risk factors of allergic rhinitis among schoolchildren in Saudi Arabia: A national cross-sectional study, 2019Sawsan Alnahas0Noura Abouammoh1Wael Althagafi2Eman Elsayed Abd-Ellatif3Field Epidemiology Training Program, Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Department of Public Health Protection, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Corresponding author. Field Epidemiology Training Program, Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaGeneral Directorate of Health Programs and Chronic Diseases, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, EgyptBackground: Allergic rhinitis is a significant public health concern worldwide, affecting both developed and developing countries, with prevalence rates ranging between 10% and 30% in adults and over 40% in children. However, there are limited studies on allergic rhinitis prevalence in Saudi Arabia. Objective: To explore allergic rhinitis among schoolchildren in Saudi Arabia in terms of prevalence, severity, and risk factors. Methods: This study was conducted between March and April 2019, covering 20 regions. The study employed a multistage, stratified cluster sampling approach and selected 137 primary and 140 intermediate schools. The research utilized the methodology and questionnaires recommended by the Global Asthma Network (GAN). Data analysis was carried out using IBM SPSS Statistics (Version 23). Results: The completed questionnaires in the analysis comprised 3614 children aged 6–7 years old and 4068 adolescents aged 13–14 years old. The study found that 5.6% of children and 14.0% of adolescents reported current rhinoconjunctivitis, with 0.5% of children and 1.3% of adolescents experiencing severe symptoms. Several risk factors were significantly associated with rhinoconjunctivitis. In children 6–7 years old, eating cooked vegetables was inversely associated with rhinoconjunctivitis, while prematurity, wheezing in infancy, and a history of pneumonia were positively associated with the condition. In adolescents, vigorous physical activity, current exposure to cats, and frequent use of paracetamol were found to be the main risk factors associated with rhinoconjunctivitis, while high consumption of pulses and eggs was found to have a protective effect. Conclusion: In Saudi Arabia, the prevalence of rhinoconjunctivitis in children is lower than average globally, but among adolescents, it is within the global average range. However, the prevalence of severe rhinoconjunctivitis among adolescents is twice the global average. Further research is required to examine regional differences, track trends over time, and explore risk factors that contribute to allergic rhinitis.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1939455123000844Allergic rhinitisPrevalenceChildAdolescentSaudi Arabia |
| spellingShingle | Sawsan Alnahas Noura Abouammoh Wael Althagafi Eman Elsayed Abd-Ellatif Prevalence, severity, and risk factors of allergic rhinitis among schoolchildren in Saudi Arabia: A national cross-sectional study, 2019 World Allergy Organization Journal Allergic rhinitis Prevalence Child Adolescent Saudi Arabia |
| title | Prevalence, severity, and risk factors of allergic rhinitis among schoolchildren in Saudi Arabia: A national cross-sectional study, 2019 |
| title_full | Prevalence, severity, and risk factors of allergic rhinitis among schoolchildren in Saudi Arabia: A national cross-sectional study, 2019 |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence, severity, and risk factors of allergic rhinitis among schoolchildren in Saudi Arabia: A national cross-sectional study, 2019 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence, severity, and risk factors of allergic rhinitis among schoolchildren in Saudi Arabia: A national cross-sectional study, 2019 |
| title_short | Prevalence, severity, and risk factors of allergic rhinitis among schoolchildren in Saudi Arabia: A national cross-sectional study, 2019 |
| title_sort | prevalence severity and risk factors of allergic rhinitis among schoolchildren in saudi arabia a national cross sectional study 2019 |
| topic | Allergic rhinitis Prevalence Child Adolescent Saudi Arabia |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1939455123000844 |
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