Volume 25, Issue 108, February, 2021

Prevalence of allergic rhinitis among female secondary school students, in Arar city, Saudi Arabia

Yusra Saad Alruwaili1^1♦, Sabry Mohamed Hammad², Amal Elwan³

¹Family medicine resident at Saudi Arabia, Arar primary health care centers, KSA
²Community Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Egypt &Public Health & Community Medicine, Northern Borders General Health Affairs, KSA
³Public Health & Community Medicine, Northern Borders General Health Affairs, KSA

^♦Corresponding author
Family medicine resident at Saudi Arabia, Arar primary health care centers, KSA; Email: Dr.yusra14@hotmail.com

ABSTRACT

Background: There has been no study done in Northern Borders region in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia exploring the prevalence of allergic rhinitis among female students in secondary schools, so this study conducted to assess the prevalence rate and understand risk factors associated with it. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted during one year. The data was collected from students in October 2019 on female secondary schools in Arar city, KSA. A multistage cluster probability sample technique was used. The sample was drawn from 3 female secondary schools randomly using self-administered questionnaire. Data entry and analysis was performed using the statistical package social sciences program (SPSS) version 20, P <0. 05 were given to indicate statistical significance. Results: 15.1% of participants were 15 years old, 33.9% were 16 years, 36.2% were 17 and 14.8% were 18 years old. 98% of study participants were Saudi. Among all 24 allergic rhinitis patients; 54.2% suffer from stuffy nose once, 20.8% twice and 16.6% three times. Stuffy nose was reported to affect daily activity in 97.1% of all cases. Allergic rhinitis severely affects sleeping of 29.2% of cases, daily activities of 16.7% and study activities of 25% of patients. Of all studied sample; 3% answered yes when asked about allergy to specific food, 8.2% for dust, 5.6% for animals, 7.2% for moth insect and 0.3% were allergic to temperature changes. Family history of allergy was positive in 11.5% of sample6.9% of all participants answered yes for sneezing, 5.6% runny nose, 6.3% nasal obstruction, 5.3% itchy nose and 5.3% itchy skin or watery eyes. 7.8% of students were previously diagnosed with allergic rhinitis, 0.3% with eczema, 3% with eye allergy and 6.9% with asthma. Conclusion: In our study; the reported prevalence of allergic rhinitis was 7.8% which was lower than most reported figures. Effective preventive interventions may reduce the mortality, morbidity, and disability induced by this public health issue, such as raising awareness of the incidence of allergic disease and its risk factors and treatment options.

Keywords: Prevalence, Allergic Rhinitis, Female Secondary School Students, Arar, Saudi Arabia

Medical Science, 2021, 25(108), 363-373

PDF