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ABSTRACT: BackgroundThis is the first multi-center epidemiological study on the prevalence of childhood asthma in Serbia and Montenegro. The International
Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) phase 3 is a large epidemiological multinational and multicentric study
on the prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema in children.
MethodsThe 12-month period prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema was calculated using an ISAAC phase 3 questionnaire
for two age groups: 6–7 years old and 13–14 years old.
ResultsIn the 13 485 children from five study centers who responded to the questionnaire, the prevalence for childhood asthma ranged
from 2.5% to 9.8%, for allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (hay fever) from 4.6% to 21%, and for eczema from 8.2% to 17.2%. The prevalence
of current wheezing was high in both age groups (16.5% and 12.4% respectively).
ConclusionsThe prevalence of asthma is higher in 6–7 years old school children in the urban and largest cities of Belgrade and Nis, and
in 13–14 years old children in Podgorica. The prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema in the school children of
Serbia and Montenegro seems similar to that of other countries in Central and South-Eastern Europe.
Key wordsasthma–children–eczema–prevalence–rhinitis
World Journal of Pediatrics 04/2012; 6(4):331-336. · 1.22 Impact Factor
