Association between Recurrence or Exacerbation at Time of Disaster and Allergic Symptoms Several Years Later in Schoolchildren with Asthma or Atopic Dermatitis: The ToMMo Child Health Study

Asthma and atopic dermatitis are common among schoolchildren. The Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011 caused serious damage to buildings and infrastructure as well as the total or partial collapse of many hospitals and medical clinics. The aim of this study was to examine the association between recurrence or exacerbation (recurrence/exacerbation) of asthma or atopic dermatitis at the time of disaster and allergic symptoms several years later in schoolchildren. A cross-sectional survey was conducted via a parent-administered questionnaire between 2013 and 2015 in Miyagi Prefecture, northeast Japan. We analyzed the data of 2,399 schoolchildren with a diagnosis of asthma and 2,107 with a diagnosis of atopic dermatitis. Among those who had experienced recurrence/exacerbation of their symptoms soon after the disaster, the prevalence of later wheezing and eczema was 71.2% (N = 195) and 81.9% (N = 379), respectively. Recurrence/exacerbation of allergic symptoms just after the disaster was positively associated with wheezing (odds ratio, OR 6.54, 95% confidence interval, 95% CI 4.94-8.67) and eczema (OR 8.12, 95% CI 6.25-10.55) several years later. Disasters might have long-term effects on the allergy symptoms of children. It is necessary to prepare for prevention of recurrence/exacerbation, to treat allergic symptoms, and to support children to continue their allergy treatments and daily care when a disaster strikes.