Prevalence of Allergic Rhinitis between Urban and Rural Residents in a Local Community.
10.5393/JAMCH.2015.40.3.148
- Author:
Byoung Kwon CHOI
1
;
Hyun Sul LIM
;
You Sun CHUNG
Author Information
1. Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Dongguk University, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Allergic rhinitis;
Prevalence;
Skin tests
- MeSH:
Adolescent;
Adult;
Child;
Humans;
Mass Screening;
Nasal Obstruction;
Prevalence*;
Rhinitis*;
Skin;
Skin Tests;
Sneezing;
Steel
- From:Journal of Agricultural Medicine & Community Health
2015;40(3):148-157
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of allergic rhinitis between urban areas in the adjacent areas to a steel industrial complex and rural areas and the impact of pollutants in the industrialized city on allergic rhinitis. METHODS: From July 28 to August 9 of 2008, 1,043 residents of urban and rural areas in a local community had enrolled in health screening and questionnaire survey. One thousand thirty-three patients also underwent a skin prick test. Prevalence rates of allergic rhinitis were calculated according to residential areas, and the used statistical analysis were Fisher's exact test and chi-square test. RESULTS: In a survey, the fraction of adults, who complained of sneezing, nasal obstruction and rhinorrhea, during a recent 1 year period, showed the significant difference between urban (30.5%) and rural areas (22.4%). The fractions of positive skin prick tests were not different between two areas in each age group. The prevalence of allergic rhinitis was 8.4% in urban areas and 6.9% in rural areas. Considering the age groups, the adults group only showed the significantly higher prevalence of allergic rhinitis in urban areas (8.2% vs. 3.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Unlike the children and adolescents groups, the prevalence of allergic rhinitis in adults group was higher in the industrialized urban areas.
