Incidence of Atopy, Allergic Rhinitis and Bronchial Asthma in Adolescents during the FirstYear in Some Selected Apprenticeships and in Secondary Schools

Overview

The authors submit the results of examinations of 266 adolescents, mean age 15.8 years, from Prague and theclose surroundings (Jílové, Libušín nr. Kladno). The respondents were divided into two groups with regard to theincidence of offensive inhaled allergens at the workplace. The first exposed group comprised 112 adolescents, thesecond (control) group where no contact with occupational inhaled allergens was found comprised 154 adolescents.The objective of the examination was to assess the ratio of atopy, allergic rhinitis, bronchial asthma and the latentform of allergic diseases in different groups and to evaluate whether the incidence of allergic diseases of therespiratory tract had an impact on the decision of adolescents during selection of their vocations after completingelementary school.An atopic background was proved in 29.8%, allergic rhinitis in 18.4%, bronchial asthma in 5.3% and a latentform of allergy in 6.8% of the group. The two groups did not differ as to the incidence of these diseases.The authors found that in predisposed subjects during selection of the vocation possible sensitization toallergens of the working environment was not taken into account. A serious fact is that more than one third of allcases of asthma and more than half of all cases of allergic rhinitis were not diagnosed in the past, although thedisease could be suspected from an aimed case-history.

Key words:
atopy, allergic rhinitis, bronchial asthma, inhaled allergens in working environment, selection of