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Background: The aim of study was to assess the prevalence of symptoms and diagnosis of allergic rhinitis (AR) and allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis (ARC) in school children in 1994/95 and 2001/02., Methodology: Standardized ISAAC questionnaire was used for assessment population of school children 6-7 yrs of age and 13-14 yrs of age in Kraków and Poznań., Results: The prevalence of AR ever symptoms increased significantly in group 6-7 yrs of age from 28.5% to 33.6% in Kraków and from 13.0% to 31.3% in Poznań. The similar rise was found in group 13-14 yrs of age in Kraków from 26.1% to 41.1%, in Poznań from 19.0% to 39.6%. In both age groups and both centers the number of children with established AR diagnosis increased: in group 6-7 yrs of age in Kraków from 15.3% to 21.1%, in Poznań from 5.0% to 19.5%; in group 13-14 yrs of age in Kraków from 19.7% to 29.9%, in Poznań from 12.0% to 32.6%. Analysis of AR and ARC current symptoms (in the last year) confirmed significant increasing prevalence in both age groups, too., Conclusion: The prevalence of AR and ARC diagnosis and symptoms increased significantly during last 7 years.

Unlabelled: The aim of the study was to assess changes in asthma prevalence between 1994/1995 (study I) and 2001/2002 (study II). Standardized ISAAC questionnaire was used. Randomly assigned population of school children 6-7 and 13-14 yrs of age was surveyed in Kraków and Poznań., Results: The prevalence of wheezing ever increased significantly in group 6-7 yrs of age from 25.5% to 28.6% in Krakow and from 17.3% to 27.6% in Poznań, respectively in study I and study II. The similar rise was found in group 13-14 yrs of age in Krakow from 14.6% to 21.6%, in Poznań from 17.1% to 22.2%. In both age groups and in both centers the number of children with established asthma diagnosis increased: in group 6-7 yrs of age in Krakow from 4.0% to 5.8%, in Poznań from 1.3% to 5.9%; in group 13-14 yrs of age in Krakow from 2.3% to 6.8%, in Poznań from 2.0% to 5.2%. Analysis of current symptoms (in the last year) confirmed increasing prevalence of wheezing, wheezing after exercise and night cough in Poznań in both age group, in Krakow only in older children. In younger children in Kraków significant difference concerned only wheezing after exercise. The most frequent symptom reported by children was nocturnal cough in the last year., Conclusions: The prevalence of the asthma symptoms and established asthma diagnosis increased during last 7 years. However significant number of children presenting asthma symptoms remains still underdiagnosed.

The aim of this publication is the comparison of the data characterizing asthma prevalence obtained from standardized questionnaire (SQ) and video-questionnaire (VQ) used in epidemiological study ISAAC--Poznań. Number of positive answers to questions concerning wheezing ever, current wheezing, night symptoms were lower in VQ. The percentage of children reporting exercise induced asthma didn't differ in both methods. Severe asthma attacks were reported more frequently in VQ. VQ may eliminate the differences in perception and interpretation of asthma symptoms, but presentation of severe symptoms leads to underestimation of asthma problem.

The study population included children aged 6-7 and 13-14 years from primary schools in Kraków (2302 and 2967 children respectively) and Poznań (3132 and 4069 children respectively). The prevalence was assessed using ISAAC questionnaire. In younger age group the number of children with diagnosed asthma and presenting asthma symptoms was significantly higher in Kraków than in Poznań. In older age group higher percentage was observed in Kraków in relation to wheeze ever and nocturnal cough during last year. Pupils from Kraków had symptoms of allergic rhinitis and were diagnosed as allergic rhinitis more frequently than from Poznań. Symptoms suggestive for skin allergy were more often observed in Kraków, but the differences were significant in relation to symptoms during last year in both age groups and in relation to symptoms ever in older age group. Our study revealed discrepancy between the prevalence of symptoms of asthma and allergic rhinitis and the prevalence of established diagnosis.