Prevalence of allergic rhinitis and risk factors in 6- to 7-yearold children in İstanbul, Turkey.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of allergic rhinitis and its relationship with various risk factors in 6-7-year-old children living in İstanbul. A total of 11,483 children aged 6-7 years in 75 primary schools from all districts of İstanbul were surveyed. Prevalence of symptoms of allergic rhinitis was assessed using a translated version of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire. Of them, 9,875 (50.7% M, 49.3% F) questionnaires were appropriately completed by the parents. The prevalence rates of lifetime, current and physician-diagnosed allergic rhinitis were 44.3%, 29.2% and 8.1%, respectively. There was nearly a two-fold variation in the prevalence rates of rhinitis between the districts of İstanbul. Frequent paracetamol and antibiotic use in the first year of life, history of frequent upper respiratory tract infections, adenotonsillectomy, breastfeeding less than six months, dog at home or perianal redness in the first year of life, and frequent trucks passing near the home were independent risk factors.