[Clinical epidemiology of bronchial asthma in children report. No. III. Comparison of prevalence of asthma with 1982 and 1990 and environmental factors].
UNLABELLED: In 1982, our group carried out a survey by the questionnaires and on the site medical check-ups to observe and occurrence of asthma and other allergic symptoms in elementary and junior high school children in Izu Ohshima island. Same procedure was repeated in 1990 for 1145 children of the same age group to see any data fluctuation. The occurrence of allergic symptoms with relation to living conditions was also researched. RESULT: 114 students (11.0%) had either suffered from asthma in the past, or were still currently exhibiting symptoms, this marked a 7.5% rise (108 students) over the 1982 research data. However, patients in need of current treatment numbered 48 (4.5%), which was similar to the 1982 data of 82 (4.3%). For other allergic symptoms, rhinitis showed a marked increase over the 1982 data. The relation between living conditions and asthma was analyzed by Multiple Factor Analysis Quantification Theory. RESULT: 1) Family history of allergy, 2) Selection of food products upon starting solids during infancy, 3) Infection of lower bronchus during infancy all seemed to have had much influence on the occurrence of asthma.