Abstract
In a cross-sectional study, the prevalence of asthma, hay fever and eczema was studied in 1150 schoolchildren attending school in Jeddah Western region of Saudi Arabia. The family histories of asthma, hay fever and eczema were examined in first degree relatives. The age range of children studied was 7–12 years, with a mean of 9.3 years (47% boys and 53% girls). A self-administered questionnaire was completed by the parents of the child to collect information concerning bronchial asthma, hay fever, and eczema in the target child and family history of respiratory allergy. A detailed family history and personal histories of asthma were available for 1035 Saudi children aged 7–12 years old. The rate of asthma and hay fever were significantly higher among siblings and offspring (cases) compared to their parents (p < 0.001). The results showed a high positive correlation between the relatives of affected children with respect to asthma and hay fever. These findings support the hypothesis that asthma and hay fever may be inherited in the Saudi population, but the mode of inheritance has yet to be determined.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adkinson J. (1920): The behaviour of bronchial asthma as an inherited character - Genetics5: 363–367.
Al-Frayh A.R.,AI-Nahdi M.,Bener A. andAl-Jawadi T.Q. (1989): Epidemiology of asthma and allergic rhinitis in two coastal areas of Saudi Arabia school children - International Journal of Allergie and Immunologie XXI, No. 10 December: 389–393.
Carter C.O. (1969): Genetics of common disorders -Brit. Med. Bull.25: 52.
Drinkwater H. (1909): Heredity of Bronchial Asthma -Br. Med. J.1: 88.
Edfors-Lubs M.L. (1971): Allergy in 7000 twin pairs -Acta Allergologica26: 249–285.
Hopp R.J.,Bewtra A.K.,Biven R.,Nair N.M. andTownley G. (1986): Bronchial activity patterns in nonasthmatic parents of asthmatic - Ann. Allergy61: 184–186.
Hopp R.J.,Bewtra A.L. andNair N.M. (1986): Methacholine inhalation challenge studies in selected pediatric population - Am. Rev. Respir. Dis.134: 994.
Hopp R.J.,Bewtra A.X. andWatt G.D. (1984): Genetic analysis of allergic disease in twins - J. Allergy Clin. Immunol.73: 265–270.
Horwood L.G.,Ferguson D.M. andShannon F.T. (1985): Social and familial factors in the development of early childhood asthma - Pediatrics75: 859.
Jaggi O.P. (1974): Asthma and other allergies - New Delhi: Orient Longman.
Konig P. andGodfrey S. (1973): Prevalence of exercise-induced bronchial lability in families of children with asthma - Archives of disease childhood48: 513–518.
Leigh D. andMarley E. (1967): Bronchial Asthma, A genetic, Population and Psychiatric study - Pergamon Press - Oxford.
Longo G.,Strinat R. andPoli F. (1987): Genetic factors in non-specific bronchial hyperactivity - Am. J. Dis. Child.141: 331–334.
Rodriguez Y.A.,Tejeiro E.A.,Gomez E.A.,Bacallao G.J. andRodriguez G.R. (1975): Investigation of the prevalence and inheritance of bronchial asthma in San Antonia de la Banos, Cuba - Bull. Pan. Am. Health Org.9: 221.
SAS Institute (1985): SAS users Guide: Statistics SAS Institute, Cary, NC.
Schenker M.B.,Samet J.M. andSpeizer F.E. (1983): Risk factors for childhood respiratory disease: the effects of host factors and home environment exposures - Am. Rev. Respir. Dis.128: 1038–1043.
Schnyder Y. W. (1960): Neurodermitis asthma-rhinitis -Acta Genet. Statist. Med.10: Suppl.: 1–90.
Schwartz M. (1952): Heredity in bronchial asthma -Acta Allergologica5: Suppl.: 2–19.
Sibbald B.,Horn M.E.C.,Brain E.A. andGregg I. (1980): Genetic Factors in Childhood Asthma -Thorax35: 671–674.
Sibbald B.,HornM.E.C. andGreggI. (1980b): A family study of genetics of asthma and wheezy bronchitis - Arch. Dis. Child.55: 354–357.
Spain W.C. andCooke R.A. (1924): Studies in specific hypersensitiveness: The familial occurrence of hay fever and bronchial asthma - J. Immunol.9: 521.
Townley G.,Guirgis H. andBewtra A. (1976): IgE levels and metacholine inhalation responses in monozygous and dizygous twins - J. Allergy Clin. Immunol.57: 227–234.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Corresponding author.