Prevalence of allergic diseases in children in Beirut: comparison to worldwide data.

OBJECTIVE: To report on the prevalence of allergic rhinitis and atopic eczema in school children in Beirut, Lebanon, and compare the prevalence rates of allergic diseases in Beirut to the rest of the world.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A random sample of school children aged 13-14 years completed the ISAAC written and video questionnaires. Data was entered using a special program prepared by ISAAC and analyzed using SPSS version 6.0.

RESULTS: The prevalence rates of allergic rhinitis and rhinoconjunctivitis were 25.5% and 15.9% respectively. Atopic eczema was more common among males, with a total prevalence rate of 11%.

CONCLUSION: The prevalence rates of allergic diseases in childhood was along the 50th percentile worldwide. The prevalence rates of uncontrolled asthma was very high while that of allergic rhinitis was low as compared to the rest of the world.