Abstract
Aim: To assess incidence of allergic disorders and respiratory infections in 5-6 years old population of Georgia.
Methods The cross sectional study using specially developed parent questionnaire was conducted in Georgia. At all 1530 parent of 5-6 years children were interviewed, 1499 questionnaires were analyzed by SPSS program.
Results: From 1499 children 32 % were 5 years old and 68% 6 years old. The 54 % live in urban, 35 % in rural area and 11% in high mountains. The study revealed that 2,3 % of children have respiratory viral infections 7-8 times per year, 19,9 – 3-5 times, 53,4 %-1-2 times and 24,2 % became ill very rarely. The study show statistically significant difference between the viral infection frequency in rural and urban area (Pearson Chi-Square=33.895a df=6Asymp. Sig. (2-sided)= ,000). There was not significant difference in morbidity according to family income, size and education. Morbidity is statistically significantly higher in boys and in children attending kindergarten and primary school in comparison with non-organized children (Pearson Chi-Square14,985a Asymp. Sig. (2-sided)=,002). The frequency of chronic diseases reported by parents is 4,1 %, from those 47 % are allergic disorders (asthma, rhinitis, atopic dermatitis). The most parents associate the asthma exacerbation with viral infections. The 42 % of children with asthma and rhinitis were vaccinated with seasonal influenza vaccine. Exacerbation of allergy was significantly less in vaccinated children.
Conclusion: Incidence of allergic disorders among children is raising. Viral infections are risk factors for asthma exacerbation. Vaccination against seasonal influenza should be encouraged.
- © 2012 ERS
