1. Corporate Affairs and Marketing (CA&M) Brand and Event Management 1 Corporate Affairs and Marketing (CA&M) Brand and Events Management SKIN TEST REACTIVITY TO COMMON ALLERGENS IS ASSOCIATED WITH ASTHMA SYMPTOMS AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN IN AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT IN GAUTENG PROVINCE, SOUTH AFRICA Joyce Shirinde 1,2*, Janine Wichmann 2, Kuku Voyi 2 1 Department of Environmental Health, Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa 2 School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria, South Africa

2. Corporate Affairs and Marketing (CA&M) Brand and Event Management 2 OUTLINE Introduction Aim of the study Study area Methodology Ethics approval Results Strength and limitations Conclusion References

3. Corporate Affairs and Marketing (CA&M) Brand and Event Management 3 INTRODUCTION Allergens such as dust mites, pets, cockroach, mould mix, grass and pollen have been linked to increase in the prevalence of asthma and allergic diseases such as rhinitis and eczema in children globally. Very few epidemiological studies have been conducted it developing countries such as South Africa. Important to have studies conducted in South Africa- etiology may differ with developing countries

4. Corporate Affairs and Marketing (CA&M) Brand and Event Management 4 AIM OF THE STUDY To investigate the relationship between sensitization to common allergens found in an around the homes of children in association with symptoms of asthma, rhinitis, eczema among children attending schools in Kempton Park and Tembisa.

5. Corporate Affairs and Marketing (CA&M) Brand and Event Management 5 METHODOLGY Design: A cross-sectional study Setting: Thirteen schools situated in Kempton Park and Tembisa were randomly selected to participate in the study. Participants: 191 school children aged 13-14 years Sensitization to 10 common inhalant allergens was done by skin prick testing. Data analysis: Multilevel logistic regression analysis

6. Corporate Affairs and Marketing (CA&M) Brand and Event Management 6 ETHICS Approval: Ethics and Research committee of the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria The Gauteng Department of Education Ekurhuleni North District School Governing bodies Parental Consent Assent by the children

7. Corporate Affairs and Marketing (CA&M) Brand and Event Management 7 RESULTS Self-reported health outcomes of the study participants (n=191) n% Wheeze ever8745.6 Wheeze past 12 months6634.6 Asthma ever4624.1 Rhinitis ever10455.0 Rhinitis past 12 months7941.4 Rhinoconjunctivitis past 12 months4222.0 Hayfever ever8444.2 Eczema ever1910.0 Eczema past 12 months178.9

8. Corporate Affairs and Marketing (CA&M) Brand and Event Management 8 ALLERGEN TESTS RESULTS

9. Corporate Affairs and Marketing (CA&M) Brand and Event Management 9 RESULTS Asthma ever D. PteronyssinusOR 4.0 (1.84 – 8.70) D. FarinaeOR 3.6 (1.60 – 8.04) Dermatophagoides mixOR 4.0 (1.83 – 8.70) Hayfever ever Having a cat as petOR 2.7 (1.17 – 6.11) Eczema ever Sensitization to cat allergenOR 16.7 (1.74 – 29.1)

10. Corporate Affairs and Marketing (CA&M) Brand and Event Management 10 CONCLUSION For children in the area it appears that dust mite allergen is an important risk factor for ever having asthma. There was a significant positive association between sensitization to cat allergen extract and to ever having eczema. No association was observed for between health outcomes and allergens of dog, cockroach, mould mix, Bermuda grass, pollen and tree mix.

11. Corporate Affairs and Marketing (CA&M) Brand and Event Management ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Tshwane University of Technology University of Pretoria Medical Research Council National Research Foundation Department of Education Parents and children who participated

12. Corporate Affairs and Marketing (CA&M) Brand and Event Management 12 REFERENCES Renz H, Conrad M, Brand S, Teich R, Garn H and Fefferle P: Allergic diseases, gen- environment interactions. Allergy 2011, 66: 10 - 12. [2]Los H, Postmus P and Boomsma D: Asthma, genetics and intermediate Phenotypes: A review from twin studies. Twin Research 2001, 4: 81-93. [3] Lawson V, Lewis- Jones M, Finlay A, Reid P and Owens R: The family impact of childhood atopic dermatitis: the dermatitis family impact questionnaire. Br Dermatol 1998, 138, 107 - 113. [4]Jenerowicz D, Silny W, Danczak-Padrowska A, Polanska A, Osmola-Mankowska A and Olek-Hrab K: Environmetal factors and allergc diseases. Ann Agric Envirion Med 2012, 19, 475-481. [5]Langley S, Goldhorpe S, Craven M, Morris J, Woodcock A and Custovic A: Exposure and sensitization to indoor allergens: Association with lung function, broncial reactivity, and exhaled nitric oxide measures in asthma. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2003, 112: 362 - 368.

13. Corporate Affairs and Marketing (CA&M) Brand and Event Management Joyce Shirinde: 2012 Thank You http://chge.med.harvard.edu/topic/climate-change-and- health-children http://blog.cleanenergy.org

14. Corporate Affairs and Marketing (CA&M) Brand and Event Management 14 Corporate Affairs and Marketing (CA&M) Brand and Events Management THANK YOU