Prevalence of allergic rhinitis in school children population of tbilisi and western Georgia

The aim of the study was assessment of prevalence of allergic rhinitis in schoolchildren population of Tbilisi and Western Georgia Region.  The cross sectional research was conducted through questioning of the random and representative groups of population. Schools and groups for study were selected by simple randomization.  

First stage of research covered 5569 children  53.7 % boys and 46.3 % girls aged from 6 to 16, who were divided into 2 groups – I  group consist with 1049 child aged 6-10 years and II group (1651 children ) aged 11-16 years. Statistical data processing was provided by software package SPSSv12.

According to questioning, repeated sneezing episodes were identified in 14, 2 % of I group and 18, 7 % in elder group. The study reviled that most frequent symptom of allergic rhinitis is rhinorea and pruritus, while most disturbing symptom is nasal obstruction. Pruritus was indicated in 15.7 % elder group 20, 1 % in younger group. Rhinorrhea was stated in 16.4, mostly among older schoolchildren. Nasal obstruction was identified in 15.9 of respondents, with high frequency in younger schoolchildren.

Spread of the symptoms of AR was reliably higher among boys (p<0.05) compared with the girls in both groups of schoolchildren.  The study results show that the prevalence of allergic rhinitis is higher in Batumi (Adjarin region) 15.3% then in Tbilisi – 14, 1 % and Kutaisi 7, 8%