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  • Title: Prevalence of allergic disorders in Italy: the Cotignola population study.
    Author: Quercia O, Incorvaia C, Puccinelli P, Scurati S, Emiliani F, Frati F, Stefanini GF.
    Journal: Eur Ann Allergy Clin Immunol; 2012 Feb; 44(1):5-11. PubMed ID: 22519126.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND: The worldwide prevalence of allergic diseases such as rhinitis, asthma, and atopic dermatitis is continuously increasing, while other allergic disorders such as urticaria and angioedema are less investigated. We performed a population study evaluating the prevalence of any kind of allergic disorders. METHODS: The entire population of 7,201 inhabitants of Cotignola (Ravenna, Italy) was surveyed by a questionnaire assessing symptoms related to rhinitis, asthma, anaphylaxis, skin symptoms and insect sting allergy as well as the features of clinical presentations, diagnosis, and treatment received. RESULTS: Valid questionnaires were obtained by 6,676 inhabitants (92.7%). The sample was formed by 3,266 males and 3,495 females, the mean age was 45.6 years; 1,035 subjects (15.5%) were aged less than 18 years; 404 subjects (6%) had at least one episode of wheezing/breathlessness in their lifetime, and 243 of them (60.1%) had a diagnosis of asthma; 1,002 subjects (14.8%) had nose symptoms in their lifetime, and 375 of them (37.4%) had a diagnosis of allergic rhinitis or rhinoconjunctivitis. For other allergic manifestations, data were obtained from 5,730 subjects; of them, 178 (3.1%) had skin symptoms, 59 (1.1%) had oral symptoms, and 37 (0.6%) had anaphylaxis; 207 (3.6%) had reactions to insect stings. There were no significant differences in prevalence between Italians and immigrants. Only 51.7% of subjects with asthma, 46.5% of those with rhinitis, 22.7% of those with other allergies, but 97.1% of those with insect allergy, received treatment. CONCLUSIONS: These findings confirm recent data on epidemiology of allergic diseases in Europe, particularly in Italy, and add some details on how such diseases are managed.
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