Browsing by Author "Akcay A."

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    Characteristics and prognosis of childhood atopic dermatitis: A multicenter study in Turkey
    (2010) Yuksel H.; Can D.; Reisli S.; Uzuner N.; Orhan F.; Cevit O.; Tahan F.; Canitez Y.; Kuyucu S.; Boz A.B.; Akcay A.; Yilmaz O.
    Background:Childhood atopic dermatitis (AD) is classically accepted as initial finding of atopic march; however, nonatopic cases do not follow this course. The aim of this study was to determine the characteristics and prognosis of AD in childhood in Turkey. Methods:The study included 531 children with AD that presented to pediatric allergy departments in 11 different regions of Turkey. Age at diagnosis, total serum and inhalant-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels and allergen skin prick test results were recorded retrospectively. Clinical characteristics like additional allergic diseases at presentation or during follow-up were recorded as well as duration of follow-up. Results:Mean age at diagnosis was 37.8 ± 36.2 months. Mean IgE level was 318.3 ± 677.8 IU/ml (median 100 IU/ml). Skin prick tests yielded positive results in 47% of children. At presentation, 31.6% of children reported additional allergic disease, while 11.7% developed allergic disease during follow-up. Among all, 46.6% had additional allergic disease at any point. IgE levels were significantly higher in children with additional allergic diseases (p = 0.001). Allergen skin prick test positivity and family history of allergic diseases increased the risk of additional allergic diseases significantly (OR = 3.90, 95% CI = 2.3-6.6 and OR = 1.89, 95% CI = 1.3-2.8, respectively). Conclusions: Allergic sensitization is not present in all cases of AD. Coexistence of additional allergic diseases is not as high as expected but more common in children who have been demonstrated to have atopic sensitization with high IgE levels and allergen skin prick test positivity. Copyright © 2010 S. Karger AG.
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    (Un)Awareness of allergy
    (BioMed Central Ltd, 2011) Kalpaklioglu A.F.; Kalkan I.K.; Akcay A.; Reisli I.; Can D.; Uzuner N.; Yuksel H.; Kirmaz C.; Gulen F.; Ediger D.
    Background: Allergy is associated with considerable morbidity. Objective: The aim of this multicenter study was to provide insight into allergy knowledge and perceptions among the population. Methods: During the World Allergy Day, several allergy clinics conducted public meetings to encourage the awareness of and education in allergy. At the beginning, participants filled out a questionnaire to assess their knowledge about what is allergy and to determine by whom those symptoms are cared. Results: A total of 256 participants (187 women/69 men, mean age, 31.2 ± 12.5 years) completed the survey. Of the 202 participants with symptoms, 58.9% had physician-diagnosed allergic disease. Among the 19 symptoms evaluated, 56.5% of the symptoms were recognized as related with allergy, and this increased in compliance with education level (r = +0.427; P < 0.001) but not with diagnosed allergy (P = 0.34). Sneezing was the most common symptom thought to be related with allergy-related symptom (77.5%), whereas loss of smell was the least one (37.9%). Participants were more likely to be cared by an allergologist (72.9%) followed by other specialties, when experiencing allergy. Conclusions: Increasing the awareness for allergic symptoms is the key not only for the diagnosis but also for the optimal treatment. Therefore, education is an important component of prevention and control of allergic diseases. Copyright © 2011 by World Allergy Organization.