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Journals / Sabuncuoglu Serefeddin Health Sciences / 2026 / Cilt: 8 Sayı: 2

PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS OF ASTHMA, ALLERGIC RHINITIS AND ECZEMA IN TURKISH CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

TÜRK ÇOCUK VE ERGENLERDE ASTIM, ALERJİK RİNİT VE EGZAMA PREVALANSI VE İLİŞKİLİ FAKTÖRLER

Mücahide Gökçen Gökalp(AMASYA ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0002-3790-7875
Mithat Kıyak(OKAN UNIVERSITY)0000-0002-6550-6059
Fuat Erel(BALIKESIR UNIVERSITY)0000-0002-5050-5694
Pages
68–77
Publication Date
2026-08-31
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

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⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Keywords: Asthma, allergic rhinitis, eczema, prevalence, pediatric allergies, schoolchildren, Türkiye, ISAAC

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:Abstract Background: Asthma, allergic rhinitis, and eczema are among the most common chronic diseases of childhood, and their prevalence varies across regions.
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Key Findings & Data:Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of allergic diseases and associated risk factors among 6–7 and 13–14-year-old schoolchildren in Balıkesir, located in Western Türkiye, and to compare the findings with recent national data.
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Conclusion & Impact:Keywords: Asthma, allergic rhinitis, eczema, prevalence, pediatric allergies, schoolchildren, Türkiye, ISAAC
🔬Design:Lab & Field Experiment
📍Scope:2013 Verileri
⚙️Variables:Astım · allerjik rinit · egzama

Abstract

Abstract Background: Asthma, allergic rhinitis, and eczema are among the most common chronic diseases of childhood, and their prevalence varies across regions. Understanding the distribution of these conditions in Türkiye is essential for effective pediatric health planning, particularly in light of environmental and lifestyle changes observed over the past decade. Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of allergic diseases and associated risk factors among 6–7 and 13–14-year-old schoolchildren in Balıkesir, located in Western Türkiye, and to compare the findings with recent national data. Methods: The study was conducted in 2013 using a cross-sectional survey design based on the validated Turkish version of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) Phase I questionnaire. A total of 3,647 students were selected from 26 schools through a stratified cluster sampling method according to socioeconomic status. Results: In the 6–7 and 13–14 age groups, lifetime wheezing prevalence was 31.5% and 19.3%, 12-month wheezing prevalence was 19.8% and 12.8%, and physician-diagnosed asthma was 11.1% and 7.1%, respectively. Lifetime rhinitis prevalence was 37.1% and 35.7%, physician-diagnosed allergic rhinitis was 15.4% and 14.8%, and physician-diagnosed atopic dermatitis was 8.8% and 6.7%, respectively. A family history of allergy, low socioeconomic status, and environmental exposures were identified as significant associated factors. Conclusion: The prevalence of allergic diseases in Balıkesir was found to be higher than in earlier Turkish ISAAC studies and remained comparable to national surveys conducted in the last decade. These findings highlight the ongoing burden of pediatric allergic diseases in Türkiye and emphasize the need for early diagnosis, prevention, and follow-up strategies tailored to regional characteristics. Keywords: Asthma, allergic rhinitis, eczema, prevalence, pediatric allergies, schoolchildren, Türkiye, ISAAC

Özet

Arka Plan: Astım, allerjik rinit ve egzama, çocukluk çağının en yaygın kronik hastalıkları arasında yer almakta olup, prevalansları bölgesel farklılıklar göstermektedir. Türkiye’de bu hastalıkların dağılımının anlaşılması, özellikle son on yılda gözlenen çevresel ve yaşam tarzı değişiklikleri ışığında, etkili pediatrik sağlık planlaması için önemlidir. Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı, Batı Türkiye’de yer alan Balıkesir ilinde 6–7 ve 13–14 yaşlarındaki okul çocuklarında allerjik hastalıkların prevalansını ve ilişkili risk faktörlerini belirlemek ve bulguları son ulusal verilerle karşılaştırmaktır. Yöntemler: Çalışma, 2013 yılında Uluslararası Çocuklarda Astım ve Allerji Çalışması (ISAAC) Faz I anketinin geçerli Türkçe versiyonu kullanılarak kesitsel bir anket yöntemiyle yürütülmüştür. Toplam 3.647 öğrenci, sosyoekonomik duruma göre katmanlı küme örnekleme yöntemi ile 26 okuldan seçilmiştir. Bulgular: 6–7 ve 13–14 yaş gruplarında, yaşam boyu hışıltı prevalansı sırasıyla %31,5 ve %19,3; son 12 ayda hışıltı %19,8 ve %12,8; hekim tanılı astım ise %11,1 ve %7,1 olarak saptanmıştır. Yaşam boyu rinit %37,1 ve %35,7; hekim tanılı allerjik rinit %15,4 ve %14,8; hekim tanılı atopik dermatit ise %8,8 ve %6,7 bulunmuştur. Ailede alerji öyküsü, düşük sosyoekonomik durum ve çevresel maruziyetler önemli ilişkili faktörler olarak belirlenmiştir. Sonuç: Balıkesir ilindeki allerjik hastalık prevalansı, daha önceki Türk ISAAC çalışmaları ile kıyaslandığında daha yüksek bulunmuş ve son on yıl içinde yapılan ulusal anketlerle benzer düzeyde kalmıştır. Bu bulgular, Türkiye’de pediatrik allerjik hastalıkların devam eden yükünü göstermekte ve bölgesel özelliklere uygun erken tanı, önleme ve izlem stratejilerinin önemini vurgulamaktadır.

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Cite This Article

Gökalp, M. G., Kıyak, M., Erel, F. (2026). PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS OF ASTHMA, ALLERGIC RHINITIS AND ECZEMA IN TURKISH CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS. Sabuncuoglu Serefeddin Health Sciences, Cilt: 8 Sayı: 2, 68–77. https://doi.org/10.55895/sshs.1826595

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