Prevalence and nature of allergy and chemical sensitivity in a general population
Prevalence and nature of allergy and chemical sensitivity in a general population
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DOI：
10.1080/00039896.1996.9936026
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发表时间：
1996-07-01
期刊：
影响因子：
--
通讯作者：
Davidoff, AL
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Meggs, WJ;Dunn, KA;Davidoff, AL
本研究的目的是：（a）确定北卡罗来纳州东部农村人群自我报告的过敏和化学敏感性患病率，（B）确定每种疾病的症状类型和频率，（c）确定受影响的人口统计学群体。在1993年5月14日至1993年9月10日期间进行了一项随机的一般电话调查，并询问了有关过敏和化学敏感性的问题。在接触的1446户家庭中，有1027户（71%）同意参加。365人（35%）报告过敏。30%的过敏个体报告每周出现一次或多次症状，而61%的人报告每月最多出现一次症状。每天发生的过敏症状占总人群的5.3%。336人（33%）报告了化学敏感性。35%的化学敏感者每周至少报告一次症状，而53%的人报告每月出现一次（或更少）症状。每天发生的化学敏感性症状的总人口的3.9%。过敏和化学物质敏感性在年龄、收入、种族和教育水平上分布广泛。16.9%的人群同时报告了过敏和化学品敏感，16.0%的人群报告了无化学品敏感的过敏，18.2%的人群报告了无过敏的化学品敏感，48.9%的人群报告了两种情况都没有。如果对化学刺激物的敏感性的普遍性实际上等同于过敏，如本研究所发现的那样，那么支持对化学敏感性进行科学调查是合理的。
The objectives of this study were (a) to determine the self-reported prevalence of allergy and chemical sensitivity in a rural population of eastern North Carolina, (b) to determine the type and frequency of symptoms for each condition, and (c) to determine the demographic groups affected. A random general telephone survey was conducted during the period May 14, 1993, to September 10, 1993, and questions about allergy and chemical sensitivity were asked. Of the 1446 households contacted, 1027 (71%) individuals agreed to participate. Allergies were reported by 365 (35%) individuals. Thirty percent of allergic individuals reported that symptoms occurred once or more each week, whereas 61% reported that symptoms occurred, at most, once each month. Allergic symptoms that occurred daily were reported by 5.3% of the total population. Chemical sensitivity was reported by 336 (33%) individuals. Thirty-five per cent of chemically sensitive individuals reported symptoms at least once each week, whereas 53% reported that symptoms occurred once (or less) each month. Symptoms of chemical sensitivity that occurred daily were reported by 3.9% of the total population. Both allergy and chemical sensitivity were distributed widely across age, income, race, and educational groups. Simultaneous allergy and chemical sensitivity were reported by 16.9% of the population, allergy without chemical sensitivity by 16.0%, chemical sensitivity without allergy by 18.2%, and neither condition by 48.9%. If the prevalence of sensitivity to chemical irritants is, in fact, equivalent to that of allergy, as was found in this study, then support for the scientific investigation of chemical sensitivity is justified.