Introduction; The link existing between the upper and lower airways has been observed repeatedly in the past, but the concept of united airways disease (UAD) is a matter of recent years. Eczema, also called atopic dermatitis, is also associated with asthma and allergic rhinitis.
Aim of work is to assess the frequency and coexistence of rhinitis, eczema and conjunctivitis in asthmatic school children.
Methods; All asthmatic patients(230) consecutively recruited in the specialist pediatric asthma out-patient clinic in school health service during 12 months, compared with another 272 non asthmatic patients attended at the same period in anther out clinics, as control group. A questionnaire was used for each patient to identify the signs and symptoms of asthma and other associated allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis, eczema or conjunctivitis. Answers were collected under supervision. Each patient was submitted to a physical examination.
Results; Bronchial asthma affected boys more than girls (62.2%and37.8respectively) and those lived in rural areas (62.2%) more than urban (37.8%).In the first decade, asthma affected both boys and girls equally, boys were more affected in age 11-15 years while affected more females above age 15.Among females, asthma was common in age less than 10 years (43.7%), while in males it was common between 11-15 years; the difference is statistically significant. About half of cases(124 patients,53.9%);the age of onset of asthma in both sex is before age of five with mean 5.1 years ±3.5.However,there is no statically significant difference between the age of onset of bronchial asthma and gender. Nocturnal asthma symptoms were present in 69.6% of total children. Seasonal exacerbations of asthma were worse in the winter, while perennial asthma reported in only 9.1% of patients. Other allergies as eczema, allergic conjunctivitis, allergic rhinitis were highly significant associated with asthmatic patients compared to control group. Sixty percent of subjects with asthma suffered from rhinitis, 29.1%and15.7%associated with allergic Conjunctivitis and allergic dermatitis respectively. There were statistically significant associations occurred between the symptoms of asthma and rhinitis (OR= 2.8; 95% CI= 2.6 to 5.6; p <0.001), asthma and eczema (OR= 2.1; 95% CI=1.2 to 3.7; p<0.001) and asthma and Allergic conjunctivitis (OR= 2.9; 95% CI= 1.8 to 4.7; p<0.001). There was a significant association between allergic rhinitis and Allergic conjunctivitis (36.7%) among cases and it is known as rhino conjunctivitis.