Asthma, allergic rhinoconjuctivitis and eczema prevalence in adolescents in Peja municipality

Aim: To determine the prevalence of allergic diseases that will serve as a basis for tracking changes over the years and comparing it with other centers in the country and in the world. Methods: Peja municipality was one of the centers of an international multicenter cross-sectional study GAN Phase I, based on ISAAC methodology. The study was conducted by enrolling 1,433, thirteen-to fourteen-year-old adolescents in five primary schools. The anthropologic measurements were performed to each participant and self-answered questionnaire on symptoms and clinical history of allergic diseases and video questionnaire was completed. Results: Out of 1458 children selected, 1433 participated in the study, with a participation rate of 98.2%. The prevalence of symptoms was, current wheeze 9.4%, asthma ever 5.6% and 3.9% asthma confirmed by doctor; 14.1%, allergic rhino-conjunctivitis ever and 8% rhino-conjunctivitis confirmed by doctor, as well as eczema ever 5.7% and eczema diagnosed by the doctor 2.4%. The country-level prevalence of allergic diseases was current wheeze 7.6%, asthma ever 3.4%; rhino-conjunctivitis ever 12.4% and eczema ever 5.6%; Conclusion: The prevalence of current asthma symptoms in children aged 13-14 years was higher in the municipality of Peja compared to the prevalence at the national level. However, both prevalence corresponded to the II prevalence rank according to the ISAAC classification. This prevalence rating is characteristic of low- and low middle-income countries, to which our country also belongs