Allergies on the Rise in Sri Lankan Youth

Asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis are on the increase worldwide. To understand the situation in Sri Lanka, researchers looked into how common these conditions are among children in different parts of the country. They also wanted to identify potential risk factors that could be changed to prevent these conditions.

The research team gathered data from 5043 children aged 10 to 19 from nine districts across Sri Lanka. The children were from various geographic and climatic regions. The team used a questionnaire designed by the International Society for Allergies and Asthma in Childhood to collect the data.

The results showed that 8.25% of the children had asthma, 10.01% had allergic rhinitis, and 2.8% had atopic dermatitis. Children living in cities were more likely to have asthma, as were those with a higher body mass index.

Interestingly, children living in homes with floors made of cow dung and walls made of clay or wattle and daub were less likely to have asthma and allergic rhinitis. However, this was not the case for atopic dermatitis.

The study also found that children living in houses with tiled floors or where gas was used for cooking were more likely to have asthma. Allergic rhinitis was more common in homes with pets.

The presence of other allergic diseases, being overweight, and living in urban areas, along with certain environmental factors, were linked to a higher risk of these conditions. This suggests that making changes to the environment and lifestyle could help reduce the prevalence of these allergic diseases.