Trends in the Prevalence and Severity of Symptoms of Asthma, Allergic Rhinoconjunctivitis, and Atopic Eczema

The increase in prevalence of asthma and other allergic diatheses has rarely been documented in the developing sub-Saharan countries. We assessed time trends in symptoms of asthma, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, and atopic eczema among children in Ibadan, Nigeria, with cross-sectional data from 2 International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire-based surveys conducted 7 years apart in 1995 and in 2001-2002. The prevalence of current wheeze increased nonsignificantly in the 6- to 7-year age group (4.8%-5.5%) and significantly in the 13- to 14-year age group (10.7%-13.0%) (p = .249 and p = .005, respectively). The 12-month prevalence of allergic rhinoconjuctivitis decreased insignificantly in the 6- to 7-year age group (p = .833) but significantly in the 13- to 14-year age group (p = .001), while the diagnosis of atopic eczema decreased in both age groups. The current findings suggest that the symptoms of asthma have only increased significantly in the Nigerian adolescents.