Worldwide variations in the prevalence of symptoms of atopic eczema in the international study of asthma and allergies in childhood

Hywel Williams, Colin Robertson, Alistair Stewart, Nadia Aït-Khaled, Gabriel Anabwani, Ross Anderson, Innes Asher, Richard Beasley, Bengt Björkstén, Michael Burr, Tadd Clayton, Julian Crane, Philippa Ellwood, Ulrich Keil, Chris Lai, Javier Mallol, Fernando Martinez, Edwin Mitchell, Stephen Montefort, Neil PearceJayant Shah, Bonnie Sibbald, David Strachan, Erika Von Mutius, Stephan K. Weiland

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

877 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Little is known about the prevalence of atopic eczema outside Northern Europe. Objectives: We sought to describe the magnitude and variation in the prevalence of atopic eczema symptoms throughout the world. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted on random samples of schoolchildren aged 6 to 7 years and 13 to 14 years from centers in 56 countries throughout the world. Those children with a positive response to being questioned about the presence of an itchy relapsing skin rash in the last 12 months that had affected their skin creases were considered to have atopic eczema. Children whose atopic eczema symptoms resulted in sleep disturbance for 1 or more nights per week were considered to have severe atopic eczema. Results: Complete data was available for 256,410 children aged 6 to 7 years in 90 centers and 458,623 children aged 13 to 14 years in 153 centers. The prevalence range for symptoms of atopic eczema was from less than 2% in Iran to over 16% in Japan and Sweden in the 6 to 7 year age range and less than 1% in Albania to over 17% in Nigeria for the 13 to 14 year age range. Higher prevalences of atopic eczema symptoms were reported in Australasia and Northern Europe, and lower prevalences were reported in Eastern and Central Europe and Asia. Similar patterns were seen for symptoms of severe atopic eczema. Conclusions: Atopic eczema is a common health problem for children and adolescents throughout the world. Symptoms of atopic eczema exhibit wide variations in prevalence both within and between countries inhabited by similar ethnic groups, suggesting that environmental factors may be critical in determining disease expression. Studies that include objective skin examinations are required to confirm these findings.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)125-138
Number of pages14
JournalJournal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Volume103
Issue number1 I
DOIs
StatePublished - 1999

Keywords

  • Atopic dermatitis
  • Atopic eczema
  • Environment
  • ISAAC
  • Prevalence

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Immunology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Worldwide variations in the prevalence of symptoms of atopic eczema in the international study of asthma and allergies in childhood'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this