The self-reported density of truck traffic on residential streets and the impact on asthma, hay fever and eczema in young adolescents.

Background: Conflicting results have been reported, mostly in developed countries, on the relationship between exposure to traffic and allergic diseases. This study aims to examine the impact of truck traffic on asthma, rhinitis and eczema in early adolescence in Skopje, the capital of the Republic of Macedonia, as a developing country with a lower middle rate of high truck traffic exposure and low prevalence rates of allergic diseases.

Methods: Self-reported data was used, obtained through the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood Phase 3 written questionnaires, from 3026 adolescents aged 13-14 years from Skopje.

Do household tobacco smoking habits influence asthma, rhinitis and eczema among 13-14 year-old adolescents?

Background: Although the harmful impact of environmental tobacco smoke on respiratory health in early childhood is well known, its effect in adolescence is still ambiguous. This study aims to examine if parents' and household tobacco smoking habits influence asthma, rhinitis and eczema in early adolescence in The Republic of Macedonia, as a country with a very high rate of household tobacco smoke exposure despite the smoking cessation campaign, and low prevalence rates of asthma, rhinitis and eczema.

Methods: Children aged 13-14 years (n=3026) from randomly selected schools in Skopje, the capital of Macedonia, completed by themselves the standardised International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) Phase Three written questionnaires on asthma, rhinitis, eczema and potential environmental risk factors.

Influence of physical activity and television-watching time on asthma and allergic rhinitis among young adolescents: preventive or aggravating?

Background: Related to exercise hypothesis, the aim of the present study was to explore the influence of physical activity on asthma and allergic rhinitis in a developing country where publicity campaigns about the benefits of exercise are scarce.

Methods: The analysed data were self-reported and obtained through the standardized International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood Phase Three written questionnaires completed by 3026 adolescents 13/14 year old in Skopje (Republic of Macedonia). Vigorous physical activity and television-watching timeboth unadjusted and adjusted for confounding factorswere used as variables for analysis.

Acetaminophen intake and risk of asthma, hay fever and eczema in early adolescence.

A positive association between acetaminophen intake and allergic diseases has recently been reported in developed countries with impaired oxidant/antioxidant balance and promotion of atopy as proposed underlying mechanisms. The aim of the study was to explore the relationship between acetaminophen intake and asthma, hay fever, and eczema in The Republic of Macedonia as a country with acetaminophen intake not physician-controlled, high passive smoke exposure and dietary antioxidant intake, and moderately low prevalence of allergic diseases. Self-reported data obtained through the standardized International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood Phase Three written questionnaires of 3026 adolescents aged 13/14 years from randomly selected schools in Skopje, the capital of Macedonia, were used.

Overweight hypothesis in asthma and eczema in young adolescents.

Background: A positive association between body mass index (BMI) and allergic diseases has recently been suggested; however the sex-dependence of this association remains controversial. The aim of the present study was to explore the relationship between BMI and asthma and eczema, as well as its sex-dependence in young adolescents.

Methods: Self-reported data obtained through the standardized International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) Phase Three written questionnaires of 2926 young adolescents aged 13-14 years old from randomly selected schools in Skopje (Republic of Macedonia) were used.