Prevalence of allergic rhinitis, and symptoms as indicators of risk in schoolchildren of the Puebla Northern Mountain Range

Abstract

Background: According to the ISAAC study, the prevalence of allergy disease is reported to have increased. Objective: To determine the prevalence of allergic rhinitis diagnosis, its symptoms and the magnitude of the association of symptoms with the disease as risk indicators. Methods: A study on allergic rhinitis prevalence was carried out, where 3446 questionnaires were applied to schoolchildren in Zacatlán, Puebla, using a validated instrument. Results: According to the questionnaire results, 413 children (12 %) were positive for allergic rhinitis diagnosis, while 3033 (88 %) were negative; 263 (7.6 %) of the cases with allergic rhinitis diagnosis were females. Overall, the prevalence of symptoms was higher than the prevalence of allergic rhinitis diagnosis. Recurrent catarrhal symptoms had the highest magnitude of association with the disease, followed by symptoms of morning and nocturnal predominance. Conclusions: The prevalence of allergic rhinitis was 12 %; recurrent nasal symptoms showed higher association with allergic rhinitis than in the general population.