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Indicator code: RPG3_Air_E1
Allergies and asthma cause a significant burden of disease in Hungarian children. This fact sheet gives an overview on the prevalence of asthmatic and allergic symptoms in children aged 8-9 years in Hungary as indicated by several national surveys. Allergic and asthmatic symptoms are associated, among other potential causes, with indoor and outdoor air quality.
The fact sheet also provides information about the different outdoor and indoor environmental factors that can result in asthma and allergic diseases in children, in particular outdoor air pollutants such as particulate matter (PM), indoor pollutants and allergens such as environmental tobacco smoke, mould, dust mites, pollens.
The prevalence of asthmatic symptoms varies between 12.3% and 21.9% (national average = 17.1%). The prevalence of allergic symptoms ranges from 18.7% to 29.3% (national average = 24.9%). These data come from questions of the international surveys CESAR and ISAAC adapted to the Hungarian situation in the OGYELF survey in 2005, which addressed 8-9 years old school-children. The results of the survey are presented by counties and by population of settlements. It is possible to assess time trends as well. Data are presented based on CESAR (1996) and OGYELF (2005) in 3 selected cities.
Hungarian policies regulate the monitoring of outdoor concentration of biological pollutants (pollen of 32 plants and 2 fungi). The continuously updated pollen report is available on several websites and through the mass media. The 7-days-ahead forecast is available as well. Strict policies order the elimination of the most aggressive allergenic plant, the ragweed, which causes significant agricultural and public health damage in Hungary.
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