BRONCHIAL ASTHMA, ALLERGIC RHINITIS, AND ALLERGY SKIN TESTS AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS

Allergic conditions were evaluated for 2 successive years among 1,836 Brown University and Pembroke College freshmen (99.2 per cent). Students gave personal allergic histories and family histories of allergy, and information was supplemented by parents. Some type of allergy was present in 34.8 per cent of the population. A total of 25.0 per cent of students had a history of asthma, seasonal hay fever, or nonseasonal allergic rhinitis. The frequency of each of these conditions was 5.3 per cent for asthma, 21.1 per cent for seasonal hay fever, and 5.2 per cent for nonseasonal allergic rhinitis. Positive family histories of asthma and/or allergic rhinitis were found to localize among students who had these conditions. Skin scratch tests with 15 commercial allergens and a control were performed on 1,243 students (67.7 per cent); 30.9 per cent showed at least one positive reaction, with localization found among the allergic group. No association between scratch test reaction and family history was observed. © 1969.