Table 2 Prevalence rates of allergic diseases and associated symptoms in Beijing, Chongqing, and Guangzhou

Asthma

   Asthma at any time

324

3.15%

710

7.45%

115

2.55%

309.16

< 0.001

   Male

223

4.09%

432

8.22%

30

1.37%

172.49

< 0.001

   Female

101

2.05%

278

6.06%

85

4.53%

98.54

< 0.001

Symptoms in last 12 months

   Wheeze

575

5.54%

343

3.48%

160

3.93%

20,074.52

< 0.001

   Exercise-induced wheeze

705

6.80%

703

7.14%

344

8.45%

17,618.17

< 0.001

   Dry cough at night

903

8.71%

852

8.65%

358

8.79%

16,381.75

< 0.001

Rhinitis

   Rhinitis at any time

1,500

14.46%

2,011

20.42%

294

7.22%

11,099.48

< 0.001

   Male

897

16.44%

1,161

22.08%

196

8.93%

4,543.83

< 0.001

   Female

603

12.26%

850

18.53%

123

6.55%

5,775.32

< 0.001

Eczema

   Eczema at any time

2,141

20.64%

1,085

10.02%

294

7.22%

12,537.00

< 0.001

   Eczema >6 months in duration

181

1.75%

212

2.15%

56

1.38%

22,463.97

< 0.001

   Male

1,153

21.13%

596

11.34%

165

7.52%

6,512.16

< 0.001

   Female

988

20.09%

489

10.66%

129

6.87%

5,958.25

< 0.001