Ali Fuat Kalyoncu

Prevalence of asthma and allergic diseases in primary school children in Ankara, Turkey: two cross-sectional studies, five years apart.

The prevalence of allergic diseases is reported to have increased worldwide. Two questionnaire surveys, five years apart, were conducted to evaluate the trend of prevalence rates and possible risk factors among primary school children in Ankara, Turkey. A previous survey in 1992 revealed the lifetime prevalences of asthma, wheezing, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis were 17.4%, 23.3%, 28% and 6.1%, and the prevalences for the preceding 12 months were 8.3%, 11.9%, 15.4% and 4%, respectively. The survey was repeated with the same questionnaire in the same age group (6–13 years) of the same school in May 1997. The parents of 358 boys and 380 girls completed the questionnaire. The lifetime and last 12 months’ prevalences of asthma, wheezing, rhinitis and atopic dermatitis were 16.8%, 22.5%, 18.7%, 6.5%, and 9.8%, 13.3%, 14.1%, 4.3%, respectively. There was a significant change only for the lifetime prevalence of rhinitis (p < 0.001). The rate of indoor smoking had declined from 73.9% to 64%, and pet ownership had risen from 7.9% to 22.9% (p < 0.001 for both). Atopic family history was the most prominent risk factor for all types of allergic disorders. Male gender was a significant risk factor for current asthma and wheezing [odds ratio (OR) = 1.80 and 1.59; 95% confidence intervals (CI) = 1.09–2.98 and 1.01–2.48, respectively], and passive smoking affected the occurrence of allergic rhinitis (OR = 1.84; CI = 1.13–3.00). The prevalence rates of allergic diseases among primary school children in Ankara stabilized during a 5‐year period for all diseases other than allergic rhinitis. However, there are changing behavior patterns, i.e. indoor smoking and keeping pet animals, which that may have affected these rates.

Occurrence of allergic conditions in asthmatics with analgesic intolerance.

Background: The study aimed to determine whether allergic conditions accompany analgesic intolerance.

Asthma and allergic diseases in schoolchildren: third cross-sectional survey in the same primary school in Ankara, Turkey

We investigated prevalence and determinants of asthma and allergic diseases in a cross‐sectional survey of schoolchildren aged 6–14 in 2002. This was the third of a series of cross‐sectional surveys, conducted in 1992 and 1997, in the same school in Ankara, Turkey. Questionnaire including information on house characteristics, dietary habits, past and current exposures and diseases were distributed to 1064 children (523 boys, 541 girls) and filled by the parents at home. Percentage of children having a pet was significantly higher (1992: 7.9, 1997: 22.9, 2002: 21), but that of passive smoking was significantly lower (1992: 74, 1997: 64, 2002: 64.1) in 1997 and 2002 when compared with 1992. Current prevalence percentage of asthma (1992: 8.3, 1997: 9.8, 2002: 6.4), wheeze (1992: 11.9, 1997: 13.3, 2002: 6.4), hay fever (1992: 15.4, 1997: 14.1, 2002: 7.2), and eczema (1992: 4, 1997: 4.3, 2002: 1.8) were significantly lower in 2002 compared with 1992. Multiple logistic regression analysis model for current wheeze included ingestion of cows milk (no regular ingestion: reference, ORs and 95% CIs, <1 glass/day: 0.5, 0.3–1.0; at least 1 glass/day: 0.3, 0.2–0.7), ingestion of red meat (2.2, 1.2–3.8), and currently holding a dog (6.1, 1.6–23.4). Multiple logistic regression analysis model for current hay fever included ingestion of red meat (1.8, 1.1–2.9) and fathers education (none of the parents finished secondary school: reference, secondary school to university: 0.5, 0.2–1.0). Our findings suggested that current prevalence of asthma and allergic diseases decreased among schoolchildren in Ankara, in the last 10 yr, and ingestion of milk and red meat could have a role in the occurrence of asthma and hay fever. Detailed assessment of dietary habits is required to test this hypothesis.

Prevalence of childhood asthma and allergic diseases in Ankara, Turkey

Kalyoncu AF, Selçuk ZT, Karakoca Y, Emri AS, Çöplü L, Şahin AA, Bariş YI. Prevalence of childhood asthma and allergic diseases in Ankara, Turkey.

Asthma and allergy in Turkish university students: Two cross-sectional surveys 5 years apart

BACKGROUND prevalence of asthma and allergic diseases is increasing worldwide. We investigated the first-year university students to a) determine prevalence of asthma, and allergic diseases, b) compare prevalence with a similar study conducted in 1994, and c) investigate determinants of asthma, current wheeze and seasonal rhinitis. METHODS an ECRHS based questionnaire was distributed to 5,406 students and completed by 4,639 (response: 85.3 %) in september 1999. Information from the students residing in Turkey was used in the analyses (1,800 boys, 2,712 girls). RESULTS prevalence % of asthma (symptom and/or medicine), current wheeze and seasonal rhinitis were 2.1, 6.9 and 12.7 in boys, and 2.5, 7.2 and 14.5 in girls. Current smoking, pet ownership and family atopy was reported more frecuently in 1999 than 1994. Cough and seasonal rhinitis increased almost twofold. Asthma diagnosis and attack rate was similar in 1999 and 1994. Family atopy, pet in childhood, smoking and passive smoking in childhood increased the risk of asthma, and current wheeze. Family atopy, passive smoking and current pet ownership increased the risk of seasonal rhinitis. CONCLUSION increased rate of smoking and pet ownership could contribute to the increased prevalence of asthma and allergic diseases in the last 5 years.

Survey of the allergic status of patients with bronchial asthma in Turkey: a multicenter study

Patients diagnosed with bronchial asthma (BA) were prospectively enrolled to assess their allergen spectra and atopic status. The patients came from five major cities (Ankara. Ízmir, Samsun. ElazíǵC, and Adana) in different regions of Turkey. Atopic status, total IgE levels, and allergen speelra were determined in 1149 patients and 210 controls who were spouses of the patients sharing the same environment hut not consanguinity with the patients. Total IgF. levels were significant higher in the asthmatic patients. For both groups, total IgE. levels were higher in both alopic and male subjects. Atopy rates were 42% in asthmatics and 26.1% in controls, declining notably by age in both groups. The most common allergen in both groups was house‐dust mite (RDM), which was more frequency detected in coastal regions (Samsun. Izmir, and Adana). Allergen spectra of the patients included HDM. pollens, cockroach, pet animals, and molds in decreasing order of frequency. Phleum praiensi: and Artemisia vulgam were the most common pollens in all regions, whereas Olea europaea was the most common in Izmir. Pollen sensitivity was least frequent in hlazig. For all of the regions, pet sensitivity was less common than, and mold sensitivity was comparable to, that of Western countries. In conclusion. BA patients in Turkey displayed significant differences in their allergen spectra and total IgE levels from control subjects and BA patients in Western countries.

Aspirin 300 mg/day is effective for treating aspirin‐exacerbated respiratory disease

Aspirin desensitization (AD) treatment at doses of up to 1300 mg/day improves outcomes in aspirin‐exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD). The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of aspirin 300 mg/day in the treatment of patients with AERD.

Bee and bee products allergy in Turkish beekeepers: determination of risk factors for systemic reactions

BACKGROUND The prevalence of allergic reactions due to bee stings in beekeepers varies in different regions of the world. The aim of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of sting reactions and the risk factors for developing systemic reactions in Turkish beekeepers. METHODS A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 1250 beekeepers to be completed in seven different cities of Turkey. A total of 494 (39.6 %) questionnaires were returned. RESULTS There were 444 subjects (89.9 %) with a history of sting exposure in the previous 12 months. Systemic reactions were present in 29 subjects (6.5 %) and nine (2 %) reactions were anaphylactic. Fifty-five percent of beekeepers reported more than 100 bee stings in the previous year. When systemic reactions were controlled by age and duration of beekeeping in a logistic regression model, seasonal rhinitis (OR: 4.4, 95 % CI: 1.2-11.5), perennial rhinitis (OR: 4.6, 95 % CI: 1.2-18.2), food allergy (OR:7.0, 95 % CI: 2.0-25.0), physician-diagnosed asthma (OR: 8.0, 95 % CI: 2.5-25.6), having an atopic disease of any type (OR: 3.3, 95 % CI: 1.2-8.7) and having two or more atopic diseases (OR: 10.9, 95 % CI: 3.5-33.8) were significantly associated with systemic reactions due to bee sting in the previous 12 months. CONCLUSION The incidence of systemic reactions in Turkish beekeepers is low, which might be due to the protective effect of a high frequency of bee stings. The risk of systemic reactions increases approximately three-fold when one atopic disease is present and eleven-fold when two or more concurrent atopic diseases are present with respect to no atopic disease.

The natural course of atopy determined by skin prick tests in patients with bronchial asthma and/or rhinitis

BACKGROUND The skin prick test (SPT) is the cheapest, most widely used and practical method for the diagnosis of allergic diseases. The results of repeat test might show variations due to aging. OBJECTIVE To perform repeat SPTs to determine possible changes in the atopy rate in general as well as changes in the allergen spectrum of atopic patients occurring over time and to identify the factors that could affect this change. METHODS A total of 222 patients who received a diagnosis of bronchial asthma and/or persistent rhinitis in our Adult Allergy Unit and who attended follow-up visits in the outpatient unit over a 2-year period were enrolled. SPT with 10 visit common aeroallergens were performed at the first and the second test was performed after an interval of at least 2 years. RESULTS The mean age was 36.4 +/- 11.4 years and 77.5 % of the patients were women. The mean interval between the two tests was 43.4 +/- 20.0 (minimum = 24-maximum = 105) months. Repeat tests showed that the atopy rate decreased from 58.6 % to 47.7 %; sensitivity rates to 10 allergens also decreased. These differences were statistically significant (p <0.05). CONCLUSION The atopy rate determined by SPTs tends to decrease over time. The most important factor affecting this decrease is time itself.

Seasonal Rhinitis, Clinical Characteristics and Risk Factors for Asthma

Background: The aim was to determine the clinical characteristics of patients with seasonal rhinitis (SR) and to disclose differences in the treatment of SR between an adult allergy clinic and other clinics over time. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted based on clinical records of 774 out of 955 patients diagnosed with SR in an adult allergy clinic between 1 January 1991 and 31 December 2003. Results: The mean age of the patients was 29.1 ± 9.29 years and 62.7% were female. The most common major complaints of the patients were nasal symptoms in 82.3%. The mean duration of the disease was 6.76 ± 6.8 years. The patients were symptomatic with a mean of 3.5 ± 1.7 months a year, mostly during the period between April and July. Skin prick tests were positive in 685 patients (90.3%), where the most common sensitivity was against timothy grass (85.1%). The most common accompanying allergic diseases were food hypersensitivity in 14%, bronchial asthma in 13.4%, and drug allergy and/or intolerance in 9.6%. Although the use of specific immunotherapy and short-acting sedative antihistamines decreased over time, the use of nasal steroids and long-acting nonsedative antihistamines tended to increase before admission to our clinic. Older age (OR: 1.77, 95% CI: 1.06–2.94), presence of familial atopy (OR: 1.72, 95% CI: 1.04–2.85), respiratory symptoms (OR: 2.10, 95% CI: 1.75–2.50), ocular symptoms (OR: 0.77, 95% CI: 0.61–0.98) and metal allergy (OR: 0.25, 95% CI: 0.07–0.89) were associated with the development of asthma in patients with SR. Conclusion: SR lasts approximately 3.5 months and the main cause in Ankara, Turkey is grass pollen sensitivity. Patients with any other allergic conditions make up 39.8% of the patients. SR patients are referred to allergy clinics quite late, which might be due to SR not being considered as a serious disease.