Global variations in prevalence of eczema symptoms in children from ISAAC Phase Three
Received 2 July 2009; received in revised form 4 October 2009; accepted 7 October 2009.
Background
In 1999, The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) Phase One reported the prevalence of eczema symptoms in 715,033 children from 154 centers in 56 countries by using standardized epidemiologic tools.
Objective
To update the world map of eczema prevalence after 5 to 10 years (ISAAC Phase Three) and include additional data from over 100 new centers.
Methods
Cross-sectional surveys using the ISAAC questionnaire on eczema symptoms were completed by adolescents 13 to 14 years old and by parents of children 6 to 7 years old. Current eczema was defined as an itchy flexural rash in the past 12 months and was considered severe eczema if associated with 1 or more nights per week of sleep disturbance.
Results
For the age group 6 to 7 years, data on 385,853 participants from 143 centers in 60 countries showed that the prevalence of current eczema ranged from 0.9% in India to 22.5% in Ecuador, with new data showing high values in Asia and Latin America. For the age group 13 to 14 years, data on 663,256 participants from 230 centers in 96 countries showed prevalence values ranging from 0.2% in China to 24.6% in Columbia with the highest values in Africa and Latin America. Current eczema was lower for boys than girls (odds ratio, 0.94 and 0.72 at ages 6 to 7 years and 13 to 14 years, respectively).
Conclusion:ISAAC Phase Three provides comprehensive global data on the prevalence of eczema symptoms that is essential for public health planning. New data reveal that eczema is a disease of developing as well as developed countries.
aCentre for Respiratory Diseases Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
bCentre for Evidence Based Dermatology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
cDepartment of Paediatrics: Child and Youth Health, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
dMurdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia
Reprint requests: Tadd O. Clayton, MSc, Department of Paediatrics: Child and Youth Health Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand.
Currently the main source of funding for the ISAAC International Data Centre (IIDC) is the BUPA Foundation. Many New Zealand funding bodies have contributed support for the IIDC during the periods of fieldwork and data compilation (the Health Research Council of New Zealand, the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation of New Zealand, the Child Health Research Foundation, the Hawke's Bay Medical Research Foundation, the Waikato Medical Research Foundation, Glaxo Wellcome New Zealand, the NZ Lottery Board, and Astra Zeneca New Zealand). Glaxo Wellcome International Medical Affairs supported the regional coordination for Phase Three and the IIDC.
Disclosure of potential conflict of interest: T. O. Clayton and M. I. Asher have received research support from the BUPA Foundation (UK). C. F. Robertson has received research support from the National Health Medical Research Council. J. A. Odhiambo and H. C. Williams have declared that they have no conflict of interest.
ABSTRACT