Background:

In Mexico, there are very few studies aimed at establishing the prevalence of allergic rhinitis (AR) and atopic dermatitis (AD) in late adolescents.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis in late adolescents and compare it according to their gender.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study that included 1992 15 to 18 year old adolescents who were recruited through a stratified and randomized probabilistic sample by clusters. The prevalence of AR (allergic rhinitis) and AD (atopic dermatitis) was identified with the questionnaire of “The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood”.

Results:

1056 (53%) women and 936 (47%) men were included in the study. The prevalence of AR was 9.0% (95% CI = 7.8% - 10.4%); the frequency was higher in women (6.7% versus 11.1%, p = 0.001). The symptoms of rhinitis plus conjunctivitis predominated in women (16.0% versus 23.1%, p < 0.0001). The prevalence of AD was 5.2% (95% CI = 4.3% - 6.2%) and, once again, it was more frequent in women (7.7% versus 2.4%, p < 0.0001). The main factors associated with AR and AD were the female gender and a history of family atopic allergic diseases (p < 0.001).

Conclusions:

There was a significant difference in the prevalence of AR and AD according to gender in late adolescents; women were most affected. In addition, a history of family atopic allergic diseases was another risk factor that was linked to both diseases.