Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Climate and prevalence of atopic eczema in 6- to 7-year-old school children in Spain. ISAAC PhASE III

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
International Journal of Biometeorology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Atopic eczema (AE) is a chronic skin disease. Recent reports indicate that the worldwide prevalence of AE is increasing and that various environmental factors are implicated in its aetiology. Climatic conditions have been related with AE prevalence, and Spain has varying climatic conditions. The aim of this study is to document the possible climatic influence on the prevalence of AE in schoolchildren aged 6–7 years in three different climatic regions in Spain. We conducted a cross-sectional population-based survey of 28,394 schoolchildren aged 6–7 years from 10 Spanish centres in three different climatic regions. The mean participation rate was 76.5%. AE prevalence was assessed using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire and the Spanish Academy of Dermatology criteria used in Spain to diagnose AE. The data, including annual temperature, precipitation, relative humidity and the annual number of sunny hours per climatic region, were obtained from the Spanish National Institute of Meteorology. Different AE prevalences were found in all three climatic regions studied: Atlantic, 32.9; Mediterranean 28.3; and Continental 31.2 per 100 children studied (p < 0.005). AE was positively associated with precipitation and humidity, and was negatively associated with temperature and the number of sunny hours. The results show that AE is significantly dependent on meteorological conditions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aberg N, Hesselmar B, Aberg B, Erikson B (1995) Increase of asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema in Swedish schoolchildren between 1979 and 1991. Clin Exp Allergy 25:815–819 doi:10.1111/j.1365-2222.1995.tb00023.x

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Anuario el País (2002). Ed el País, pp 434

  • Arnedo-Pena A, García Marcos L, García G, Aguinaga I, González C, Morales M, Domínguez B, Busquets R, Blanco A, Batlles J (2005) Tendencia temporal y variaciones geográficas de la prevalencia de síntomas de rinitis alérgica en escolares de 6–7 años de ocho áreas españolas, según el ISAAC. An Pediatr (Barc) 62:229–236 doi:10.1157/13071837

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Arruda LK, Sole D, Baena-Cagnani CE, Naspitz CK (2005) Risk factors for asthma and atopy. Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol 5:153–159

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Asher MI, Weiland SK (1998) The international study of asthma and allergies in childhood (ISAAC). ISAAC steering committee. Clin Exp Allergy 28:52–66 doi:10.1046/j.1365-2222.1998.028s5052.x

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Asher MI, Keil U, Anderson HR, Beasley R, Crane J, Martínez F, Mitchell EA, Pearce N, Sibbald B, Stewart AW (1995) International study of asthma and allergies in childhood-ISAAC: rationale and methods. Eur Respir J 8:483–491 doi:10.1183/09031936.95.08030483

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ashida Y, Denda M (2003) Dry environment increases mast cell number and histamine content in dermis in hairless mice. Br J Dermatol 149:240–247 doi:10.1046/j.1365-2133.2003.05408.x

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bisgaard H (2004) The copenhagen prospective study on asthma in childhood (COPSAC): Design, rationale, and baseline data from a longitudinal birth cohort study. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 93:381–389

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Blanco Quirós A, Díaz Castella JM, Balañá Vilanova M, Valveny Llobet N (2005) Risk factors for atopic dermatitis and familial prevalence in Spain (ELIHO study). An Pediatr 63:480–488

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Charpin D, Kleisbauer J, Lanteaume A (1988) Asthma and allergy to house dust mites in populations living in high altitudes. Chest 93:758–761 doi:10.1378/chest.93.4.758

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Charpin D, Birnbaum J, Haddi E (1991) Altitude and allergy to house dust mites. Am Rev Respir Dis 143:983–986

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ellwood P, Asher MI, Beasley R, Clayton TO, Stewart AW (2005) The international study of asthma and allergies in childhood (ISAAC): phase three rationale and methods. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 9:10–16

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fennessy M, Coupland S, Popay J, Naysmith K (2000) The epidemiology and experience of atopic eczema during childhood: a discussion paper on the implications of current knowledge for health care, public health policy and research. Epidemiol Community Health 54:581–589 doi:10.1136/jech.54.8.581

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Garcia-Marcos L, Suarez-Varela MM, Canflanca IM, Garrido JB, Quirós AB, López-Silvarrey Varela A, Hernández GG, Guillén Grima F, Díaz CG, González IH, Pena AA, Monge RB (2005) BCG immunization at birth and atopic diseases in a homogeneous population of Spanish schoolchildren. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 137:303–309 doi:10.1159/000086461

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Girolomoni G, Abeni D, Masini C, Sera F, Ayala F, Belloni-Fortina A, Bonifazi E, Fabbri P, Gelmetti C, Monfrecola G, Peserico A, Seidenari S, Giannetti A (2003) The epidemiology of atopic dermatitis in Italian schoolchildren. Allergy 58:420–425 doi:10.1034/j.1398-9995.2003.00112.x

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guerra Tapia A (1997) Dermatitis atópica. In: Capdevila F (ed) Dermatología pediátrica. Grupo Aula Médica, Madrid, pp 83–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Haileamlak A, Lewis SA, Britton J, Venn AJ, Woldemariam D, Hubbard R, Williams HC (2005) Validation of the international study of asthma and allergies in childhood (ISAAC) and U.K. criteria for atopic eczema in Ethiopian children. Brit J Dermatol 152:735–741 doi:10.1111/j.1365-2133.2005.06511.x

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huisson A, Krishna MT (2008) Images in clinical medicine. Cold-induced urticaria. N Engl J Med 21:358–359

    Google Scholar 

  • INE- Instituto Nacional de Estadística (2006a) Humedad media mensual en porcentaje por región, estación, años y meses. Climatología. Entorno físico y Medio Ambiente. In: Anuario Estadístico de España 2006. Madrid, pp 22

  • INE- Instituto Nacional de Estadística (2006b) Número de horas de sol por región, estación, años y meses. Climatología. Entorno Físico y Medio Ambiente. In: Anuario Estadístico de España 2006. Madrid, pp 24

  • INE- Instituto Nacional de Estadística (2006c) Temperaturas medias mensuales por región y estación, años y meses. Climatología. Entorno Físico y Medio Ambiente. In: Anuario Estadístico de España 2006. Madrid, pp 21

  • INE- Instituto Nacional de Estadística (2006d) Precipitación total en milímetros por región, estación, años y meses. Climatología. Entorno Físico y Medio Ambiente. In: Anuario Estadístico de España 2006. Madrid, pp 23

  • Informe del Estado de Salud de la Población de Madrid (www.madrid.org)

  • ISAAC (1998a) The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). Steering Committee. Worldwide variation in prevalence of symptoms of asthma, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, and atopic eczema: ISAAC. Lancet 351:1225–1232 1998

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ISAAC (1998b) The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) Steering Committee. Worldwilde variations in prevalence of asthma symptoms: The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). Eur Respir J 12:315–335

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lewis-Jones S (2005) Measuring the burden of atopic eczema in young children and the family unit. J invest Dermatol 125:1106–1111

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marks R, Kilkenny M, Plunkett A, Merlin K (1999) The prevalence of common skin conditions in Australian school students: 2. Atopic dermatitis. Br J Dermatol 1999 140:468–473

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Martin Fernandez-Mayoralas D, Martin Caballero JM, Garcia-Marcos Alvarez L (2004) Association between atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis and asthma in schoolchildren aged 13–14 years old. An Pediatr (Barc) 60:236–242

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mata Fernandez C, Fernandez-Benitez M, Perez Miranda M, Guillen Grima F (2005) Validation of the Spanish version of the Phase III ISAAC questionnaire on asthma. J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol 15:201–210

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maymí MA, Somolinos AL, Nazario CM, Sánchez JL (2007) The prevalence of atopic dermatitis in Puerto rican School children. P R Health Sci 26:127–133

    Google Scholar 

  • Morales MM, García-Marcos L, González C, Arnedo L, Domínguez B, Busquets RM, Blanco A, Batlles J, Miner I, López-Silvarrey A, Martínez A, Aguinaga I, Llopis A, Jiménez MC (2007) Prevalencia de dermatitis atópica y factores nutricionales en niños de 6–7 años. Aten Primaria 39:355–360

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spergel JM, Paller AS (2003) Atopic dermatitis and the atopic march. J Allergy Clin Immunol 112:S118–127

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vocks E, Busch R, Frohlich C, Borelli S, Mayer H, Ring J (2001) Influence of weather and climate on subjective symptom intensity in atopic eczema. Int J Biometeorol 45:27–33

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Weiland SK, Hüsing A, Strachan DP, Rzehak P, Pearce N (2004) Climate and the prevalence of symptoms of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic eczema in children. Occup Environ Med 61:609–615

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Williams H, Robertson C, Stewart A, Ait-Khaled N, Anabwani G, Anderson R, Asher I, Beasley R, Bjorkstén B, Burr M, Clayton T, Crane J, Ellwood P, Keil U, Lai C, Mallol J, Martínez F, Mitchell E, Montefort S, Pearce N, Shan J, Sibbald B, Strachan D, von Mutius E, Weiiland SK (1999) Worldwide variations in prevalence of symptoms of atopic eczema in the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood. J Allergy Clin Immunol 103:125–138

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yura A, Shimizu T (2001) Trends in the prevalence of atopic dermatitis in school children: longitudinal study in Osaka Prefecture, Japan, from 1985 to 1997. Br J Dermatol 145:966–973

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We wish to thank the Spanish Ministry of Health and Consumption, the Institute of Health Carlos III, the Network of Centres (RCESP), the Oscar Rava Foundation 2001, Barcelona, the Department of Health of the Regional Government of Navarre, the International Luis Vives Rotary Foundation 2002–2003, Valencia, the Department of Health of the Regional Government of Murcia, and AstraZeneca, Spain. Thank to all the parents who kindly participated and gave us some of their time. Finally, we thank the native translator who revised this article.

The members of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) in Spain are: L García-Marcos (coordinator), A Martínez Torres, JJ Guillén Pérez, V Pérez Fernández (Cartagena, coordinating centre); J Batlles Garrido, T Rubí Ruiz, A Bonillo Perales, MM Sánchez Gutiérrez, B Chamizo Moreno, J Momblan de Cabo, R Jiménez Liria, J Aguirre Rodríguez, A Losilla Maldonado, M Torres Daza (Almería); I Carvajal Urueña, C Díaz Vázquez, C Díez Fernández, A García Merino, B Domínguez Aurrecoechea, M Marcilla Escotet, MO Díez Fernández, I Huerta González (Asturias); RM Busquets Monge, O Vall Combelles (Barcelona); C González Díaz, A González Hermosa, N Garcia Perez, M Ferrez Arriazu, M Villar Alvarez (Bilbao); A Arnedo-Pena, A Artero, JB Bellido, JB Campos, Ma L Museros, Ma R Pac, J Puig (Castellón); A López-Silvarrey Varela (La Coruña); G García Hernández, A Marínez Gimeno, C Luna Paredes, AL Moro Rodríguez, I González Gil (Madrid); F Guillén, I Aguinaga, B Marín, C Brun, J Hermoso, I Serrano, M Fernández, J de Irala, MA Martínez (Pamplona); EG Pérez-Yarza, P Gomez-Cabanillas, N García de Andoin, I Miner Canflanc (San Sebastián), MM Morales Suarez-Varela, A Llopis González, MC Jiménez López, M Gracia Antequera (Valencia); A Blanco Quirós, J Castrodeza Sanz, S Marín Urueña, E Burgueño Sánchez-Taiz (Valladolid).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unit of Public Health, Hygiene, and Environmental care. Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain

    María Morales Suárez-Varela & Agustín Llopis González

  2. Research group CIBER CB06/02/0045, CIBER actions - Epidemiology and Public Health, Valencia, Spain

    María Morales Suárez-Varela & Agustín Llopis González

  3. Research Foundation. Hospital Universitario “Dr. Peset”, Valencia, Spain

    María Morales Suárez-Varela

  4. Unit of Clinical Research, Cartagena and Department of Paediatrics, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain

    Luís García-Marcos Alvarez

  5. HRSA. Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Rockville, USA

    Michael D. Kogan

  6. Section of Paediatric Pneumo-Allergy, Hospital Infantil 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain

    Antonio Martínez Gimeno

  7. Department of Health Sciences, Public University of Navarre, Navarre, Spain

    Inés Aguinaga Ontoso

  8. Department of Paediatrics, Hospital of Basurto, Bilbao, Spain

    Carlos González Díaz

  9. Section of Epidemiology. Centre of Public Health, Regional Ministry of Health, Castellón, Castellón, Spain

    Alberto Arnedo Pena

  10. Health Centre of Otero – Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain

    Begoña Domínguez Aurrecoechea

  11. Department of Paediatrics, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain

    Rosa María Busquets Monge

  12. Department of Paediatrics, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain

    Alfredo Blanco Quiros

  13. Department of Paediatrics, Hospital Torrecárdenas, Almería, Spain

    José Batlles Garrido

  14. Department of Paediatrics, Hospital de Donostia, San Sebastián, Spain

    Iñaqui Miner Canflanca

  15. Foundation María José Jove, A Coruña, Spain

    Ángel López-Silvarrey Varela

  16. Unidad de Salud Pública, Higiene y Sanidad Ambiental, Departamento de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Avd. Vicente Andrés Estellés s/n, 46100, Burjassot (Valencia), Spain

    María Morales Suárez-Varela

Authors
  1. María Morales Suárez-Varela
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Luís García-Marcos Alvarez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Michael D. Kogan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Agustín Llopis González
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Antonio Martínez Gimeno
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Inés Aguinaga Ontoso
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Carlos González Díaz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Alberto Arnedo Pena
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Begoña Domínguez Aurrecoechea
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Rosa María Busquets Monge
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. Alfredo Blanco Quiros
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  12. José Batlles Garrido
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  13. Iñaqui Miner Canflanca
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  14. Ángel López-Silvarrey Varela
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to María Morales Suárez-Varela.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Suárez-Varela, M.M., García-Marcos Alvarez, L., Kogan, M.D. et al. Climate and prevalence of atopic eczema in 6- to 7-year-old school children in Spain. ISAAC PhASE III. Int J Biometeorol 52, 833–840 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-008-0177-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-008-0177-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation