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Sports activities enhance the prevalence of rhinitis symptoms in schoolchildren.
Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2015 Nov 27;
Authors: Kusunoki T, Takeuchi J, Morimoto T, Sakuma M, Mukaida K, Yasumi T, Nishikomori R, Heike T
Abstract
BACKGROUND: To evaluate the association between sports activities and allergic symptoms, especially rhinitis, among schoolchildren.
METHODS: This longitudinal survey of schoolchildren collected data from questionnaires regarding allergic symptoms based on the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) program and sports participation that were distributed to the parents of children at all 12 public primary schools in Ohmi-Hachiman City, Shiga Prefecture, Japan. Data were collected annually from 2011 until 2014, when the children reached 10 years old. Blood samples were obtained in 2014, and levels of immunoglobulin (Ig) E specific to four inhalant allergens were measured.
RESULTS: Data from 558 children were analyzed. At 10 years old, prevalences of asthma and eczema did not differ significantly, while rhinitis was significantly higher (P=0.009) among children who participated in sports. Prevalence of rhinitis increased as the frequency or duration of sports participation increased (P<0.01). The prevalence of new-onset rhinitis increased significantly among 10-year-olds with increasing duration of participation in sports (P=0.03). Among those who participated in continuous sports activities, prevalence of rhinitis was significantly higher with prolonged eczema (P=0.006). Sports activities did not increase sensitization to inhalant allergens.
CONCLUSION: Sports activities enhance the prevalence of rhinitis in schoolchildren. Prolonged eczema, together with sports participation, further promotes the symptoms. The mechanisms of these novel findings warrant further investigation. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
PMID: 26613558 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]
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