Urticaria among children aged 2-6 years in Nanjing city: a cross-sectional investigation

Objective To investigate the prevalence of urticaria among children aged 2-6 years in Nanjing city. Methods A questionnaire survey was carried out in children aged 2-6 years in 5 main districts of Nanjing City. Results The number of valid questionnaires was 13 610, accounting for 92.8% of total respondents. Among the 13 610 respondents, 1 116 were diagnosed as urticaria, including 565 boys and 551 girls, with the total prevalence rate being 8.54%. No significant difference was observed in the prevalence rate of urticaria between boys and girls（8.49% vs. 8.60%, χ2 = 0.04, P = 0.832）or among children of different age groups（χ2 = 1.84, P= 0.17）. The prevalence of urticaria increased with age, and positively correlated with parents' educational level（rs = 0.96, P = 0.000）. Children born in urban areas showed higher prevalence of urticaria than those in rural areas（8.79% vs. 5.56%, χ2= 13.98, P = 0.000）. Conclusions The prevalence of urticaria has increased among children aged 2-6 years in recent years. More studies should be carried out to investigate into the pathogenesis and relevant factors of urticaria, so as to facilitate its prevention and treatment. Key words: Urticaria; Prevalence; Child