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PREVALENCE OF ALLERGIC CONDITIONS IN RURAL AND URBAN CHILDREN OF AJMER DISTRICT

Department of Respiratory Medicine and Tuberculosis, JLN Medical College, Ajmer, Ajmer, India

PURPOSE: To define any differences between prevalence of allergic conditions in rural and urban children of Ajmer District (India).

METHODS: In all 6959 school children of Urban and Rural area of Ajmer district were included in the study. The age ranged from 5-15 years. They were divided in two groups: 5-10 years and 11-15 years. To assess the prevalence of allergic conditions history, clinical examination and modified questionnaire was used.

RESULTS: The total number of children in urban schools was 4553. The number of children aged 5-10 years children was 1949, which included 745 Male and 1204 Females. The male to female ratio is 1:1.6.2. The number of children aged 11-15 years was 2594. Out of these 1040 were Males and 1554 were Females. The male to female ratio is 1:1.49.3. The total number of children of rural school was 2416. Out of these 1111 aged 5-10 years. (567 boys and 544 girls). The male to female ratio is 1:0.95.4. The number of children who belonged to 11-15 years was 1305 (682 males and 623 females). The male to female ratio is 1:0.91.5. In urban male children, 81 (4.5%) had allergic conjunctivitis, 90 (5%) allergic rhinitis, 29 (1.6%) eczema and 4 (0.2%) had food and other allergies. In female children 163 (5.9%) had allergic conjunctivitis 184 (6.7%) allergic rhinitis, 86 (3.1%) eczema and 8 (0.3) had food allergy. 6. In rural area in male children 8 (0.6%) had allergic conjunctivitis, 31 (2.48%) allergic rhinitis and 13 (1.04%) had eczema. In female children 12 (1.02%) had allergic conjunctivitis, 53 (4.5%) allergic rhinitis and 6 (0.5%) had eczema.

CONCLUSION: Out of 4553 children of urban schools 645 (14.2%) had allergy and in rural areas, out of 2416 children only 123 (5.1%) had allergy.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: The prevalence of allergy was higher in urban children, which may be due to changes in dietary habits, pasive exposure to cigarrete smaoke , and better control of inetestinal and other childhood inefections (hygiene hypothesis).

DISCLOSURE: Sidharth Sharma, No Financial Disclosure Information; No Product/Research Disclosure Information