The prevalence of allergic diseases in school children of metropolitan city in Indonesia shows a similar pattern to that of developed countries

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of allergy among Surabaya school children is currently unknown.

Objective: To identify the prevalence of the common allergic sensitization and allergic diseases among school children and undergraduate students in suburban of Surabaya by epidemiologic data collection.

Methods: A multistage simple random sampling was done to select 5 primary schools, 8 secondary schools (4 of junior high schools and senior high schools, respectively), and 1 university from 5 districts in Surabaya city. Out of 550 invited respondents, 499 (128 primary school, 221 secondary school, and 150 undergraduate) respondents gave their consent. A complete personal history, allergic symptoms, environmental exposure of common allergens was obtained from interview and the physical examinations were performed. Skin prick test (SPT) was done using 45 different allergen extracts. Total serum IgE and specific IgE radioallergosorbent test levels were measured for respondents with allergic manifestations.

Results: There was an increasing SPT positivity among study respondents, from primary school, secondary school, to undergraduate students (21.90%, 28.95%, to 45.30% respectively). Cockroach (42.85%) and fungi/mold spore (42.85%) were the most common allergens in primary school children. House dust mites was the most common allergen in secondary school (63.16%) and undergraduate students (58.82%). Urticaria and rhinitis were the commonest allergic diseases manifestation. History of atopy was positive in 60.79% of the allergic respondents.

Conclusion: The prevalence of allergic sensitization among school children and undergraduate students in Surabaya suburb areas were increased compared to previous estimates in 1998. While house dust mites are known as important allergens, surprisingly cockroach was the common allergen among the younger school children.

Keywords: Allergy; Epidemiologic studies; Fungi/mold spore; Schoolchildren; Skin prick test.

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: The authors have no financial conflicts of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1. The prevalence of allergic sensitization in Surabaya school children. There was a trend of increasing allergic sensitization among school children and undergraduate students. Allergic sensitization was defined as positive skin prick test result to one or more of 45 allergen extracts tested.

Fig. 2. The most common allergens in sensitized Surabaya school children. The coloured bar diagram showed the percentage of sensitization in a particular group of children. House dust mites were the most common allergens in secondary school children and undergraduate student. Cockroach and mold spore were quite dominant in all of the groups, and being the most common allergen in primary school children.

Fig. 3. The common allergic diseases in Surabaya school children. Diagnosis of allergic disease was determined based on history of allergic symptoms, physical examination, and skin prick test or IgE examination result. Allergic rhinitis was the most common allergic disease manifestation in Surabaya school children.