Factors responsible for asthma and rhinitis among Kuwaiti schoolchildren.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of asthma among schoolchildren and to determine the level house dust mites in Kuwaiti homes and its role in asthma and rhinitis. SUBJECTS AND METHOD The International Study of Asthma and Allergy in Children questionnaire was distributed to schoolchildren in the age group of 5-7 years, after random sampling from all the five governorates of Kuwait. The questionnaires were completed and initiated by parents with the help of the investigator and parents. House dust was collected from the bedroom floor of 549 houses in the same geographical areas where the schoolchildren were sampled, extracted and assayed for mite Der p 1 by ELISA method. RESULTS The estimated prevalence of asthma was 22.4% and that of rhinitis was 23%. House dust collected from the bedroom floor was found to contain low levels of Der p 1. There was no significant difference (p = 0.969) in the level of Der p 1 between areas in Kuwait. The highest levels of Der p 1 ranged from 0.02 to 0.10 mg/g in 3.5% of the total samples examined. CONCLUSIONS There is a high prevalence of asthma and rhinitis among the schoolchildren in Kuwait. However, the level of dust mitogens investigated in this study was below the level of concern, thus undermining their role in increasing asthma cases in Kuwait. Therefore, further studies are needed to understand the role of other mite allergens and other factors that contribute to the increased prevalence of allergic diseases in Kuwaiti children.