Table 5. Risk factors for having ever had any of rhinitis, conjunctivitis, eczema and asthma among Ugandan schoolchildren (N = 1693).
| Allergy-related diseases—ever | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Characteristics | Adj. OR1 (95% CI) | p-value | Yes (N = 1195) | No (N = 498) |
| Age, years Mean (SD) | 11.29 | 10.64 | 1.06 (1.02–1.10) | .003 |
| Girls (942) | 680 (56.9) | 262 (52.6) | 1.28 (1.02–1.61) | .03 |
| Father’s history of allergic disease [m = 150] | ||||
| Yes (363) | 313 (28.5) | 50 (11.2) | 2.64 (1.89–3.70) | <.0001 |
| Mother’s history of allergic disease [m = 127] | ||||
| Yes (592) | 483 (43.1) | 109 (24.4) | 2.21 (1.70–2.86) | <.0001 |
| Area of residence at the time of the child’s birth [m = 1] | ||||
| Rural (355) | 234 (19.6) | 121 (24.3) | 1 | .01 |
| Town (1188) | 835 (69.9) | 353 (70.9) | 1.06 (0.81–1.40) | |
| City (149) | 125 (10.5) | 24 (4.8) | 2.12 (1.26–3.57)a | |
| Exposure to animals in first 5 years of life [m = 60] | ||||
| Yes (615) | 454 (39.2) | 161 (33.8) | 1.41 (1.11–1.80) | .005 |
| Frequency of ‘trucks passing on street near child’s home’ at enrolment [m = 1] | ||||
| Rarely (945) | 626 (52.4) | 319 (64.1) | 1 | .001 |
| Frequently (624) | 464 (38.9) | 160 (32.1) | 1.40 (1.10–1.78) | |
| Almost all the time (123) | 104 (8.7) | 19 (3.8) | 2.18 (1.25–3.78)b | |
| Use of de-worming medication in last 12 months [m = 3] | ||||
| None (578) | 384 (32.2) | 194 (39.0) | 1 | <.0001 |
| Once (732) | 491 (41.2) | 241 (48.4) | 0.95 (0.75–1.22) | |
| ≥Twice (380) | 317 (26.6) | 63 (12.6) | 2.12 (1.51–2.99)c | |
| Any helminth infection at enrolment [m = 130] | ||||
| Yes (212) | 133 (12.0) | 79 (17.3) | 0.73 (0.53–1.02) | .06 |
| Tuberculin skin test induration at enrolment [N = 961] | ||||
| Positive (≥10 mm) (143) | 88 (13.1) | 55 (19.0) | 0.60 (0.39–0.90) | .01 |
| Skin Prick Test response to any of 7 allergens at enrolment [m = 36] | ||||
| Positive (≥3 mm) (657) | 529 (45.2) | 128 (26.3) | 1.91 (1.49–2.46) | <.0001 |
| Fractional exhaled nitric oxide levels at enrolment [m = 80] | ||||
| Elevated (≥35 ppb) (381) | 321 (27.7) | 60 (13.2) | 1.92 (1.40–2.64) | <.0001 |
| Allergen-specific IgE at enrolment (N = 398)2 | ||||
| Atopic (≥0.35 kUA/L) (252) | 203 (67.2) | 49 (51.0) | 1.54 (0.92–2.56) | .10 |
| Total IgE (N = 398) Median (95% CI) kU/L | 348.2 (279.9–465.3) | 310.0 (187.6–381.5) | 0.9998 (0.9996–1.0001) | .22 |
Abbreviations: Adj. OR, adjusted odds ratio; CI, confidence interval; m, missing; N = number; SD, standard deviation; Columns 2 and 3 represent number (%), unless stated otherwise.
1
Adjusted for child’s age, sex, area of residence at birth and father’s education. Test for trend p-valve: a = 0.02; b < 0.0001; c < 0.0001.
2
ImmunoCAP, cut-off > 0.35 kUA/L.