Allergies in younger school-age children

Diplomski rad izrađen je na Odsjeku za prirodne znanosti iz predmeta Prirodoslovlje II pod vodstvom mentorice dr. sc. Irelle Bogut, izvanredne profesorice i sumentora mr. sc. Željka Popovića, profesora visoke škole. Tehnološki i civilizacijski napredak donijeli su promjene u radnim, prehrambenim, higijenskim i drugim navikama ljudi. Ljudska bića razvila su složen sustav zaštite od potencijalno štetnih organizama koji mogu napasti tijelo. Riječ je o imunosnom sustavu koji, jednom kad prestane normalno funkcionirati, uzrokuje alergije. Pojam preosjetljivosti poznavali su još grčki liječnici, a naziv alergija prvi je donio Pirquet 1906. godine. Uzroci alergija su alergeni, tvari s kojima je naše tijelo u svakodnevnom kontaktu. Alergene najčešće udišemo, uzimamo hranom i pićem ili kao lijekove, a u tijelo često ulaze ubodom insekata. Tipični znakovi alergije su svrbež, crvenilo očiju i kože, suzenje, kihanje i drugi. Najpoznatije alergijske bolesti su alergijski rinitis, alergije očiju, alergijska astma te različite alergijske bolesti kože. Prema današnjim znanstvenim spoznajama alergije nisu izlječive. Uz pomoć ispravne edukacije, pravodobne prevencije te liječenja lijekovima, tegobe bolesnika mogu se znatno smanjiti, no alergična osoba ostaje alergična za cijeli život. Istraživanje o alergijskim bolestima djece mlađe školske dobi provedeno na uzorku od 144 učenika iz urbanog i ruralnog okruženja pokazalo je da je 67 učenika alergično, što je 47%. Najviše učenika, njih 19, alergično je na pelud, 18 ih je alergično na alergene iz kućanstva, 17 na životinje i insekte, a 14 na ambroziju. Broj učenika alergičnih na lijekove i cjepiva je 12, a po 8 je učenika alergično na sunce te hranu. Analiza učeničkih odgovora pokazala je da su alergije češće u gradu nego u selu. Istraživanje je također pokazalo da su učiteljice upoznate sa simptomima i potencijalnim opasnostima za učenike s alergijom, ali i da su njihovi učenici nedovoljno upoznati s pojmom alergija. S obzirom na to da su alergijske bolesti u stalnom porastu, učenike je potrebno dodatno informirati o njima, stoga predlažem uvođenje teme alergijskih bolesti u Nastavni plan i program kao temu iz zdravstvenog odgoja. Tema alergijskih bolesti se tako može provesti u okviru terenske nastave, odnosno posjete ambulanti i liječniku, različitih radionica u školi predvođenih stručnim medicinskim osobljem ili klasičnog oblika nastave kroz razgovor i prezentaciju ili rad u skupinama.Technological improvement and the progress of human civilization have created significant changes in people's habits related to work, diet and hygiene. Human beings have developed a complex system that provides them a protection against potentially harmful organisms that might attack human body. That system is known as the immune system and once the immune system stops working properly, it causes allergies. The term hypersensibility was first used by the Greek doctors but the word ''allergy'' was first introduced by Pirquet in 1906. Allergy reactions are caused by different substances that our body meets on daily basis and those substances are known as allergens. The allergens can mostly be inhaled, swallowed as parts of food, drinks and medicines and they often enter human body with the venom of stinging insects. The specific allergy symptoms include itching, eye and skin redness, nasal discharge, sneezing, etc. The most common types of allergic diseases are allergic rhinitis, eye allergies, allergic asthma and different types of skin allergies. According to scientific evidence, the allergies still can not be cured. Adequate education, prevention measures and medication treatment reduce the influence of allergy but the person remains allergic for the whole life. The study of allergies in young school- age children was conducted on a sample of 144 students in both urban and rural area and the results suggest that 67 students are allergic, which is 47% in total. Students are mostly allergic to pollen, 19 of them, 18 students are allergic to household allergens, 17 of them to animals and insects and 14 students are allergic to ambrosia. Number of students allergic to medicines and vaccines is 12 and in the end, 8 students have food as well as the sun allergy. The analysis of students' answers shows that the allergies are more common in town than in village surroundings. The study shows that primary school teachers are well familiar with the symptoms and potential risks for children with allergies but it also shows that students are not familiar enough with allergy terms. On the basis of the results, and due to the constant growth of allergies, students need to be provided with more information regarding that topic so I propose the introduction of allergy topic in the current curriculum as a part of health education. The study supports the view that the topic of allergies can be done in school within field teaching by visiting the clinic and the doctor, different school workshops led by special medical personnel or traditional forms of teaching such as through conversations, presentations or student's group work