Prevalence of allergy symptoms and associated medication use in a sample of college seniors

J Am Coll Health. 2002 Sep;51(2):67-70. doi: 10.1080/07448480209596332.

Abstract

The authors surveyed a random sample of college seniors at a university in Boston to determine the prevalence of allergy symptoms and the students' use of medications to relieve symptoms. Of the 400 individuals queries, 58.2% reported some symptoms during the previous year, and 63.0% of that group said their symptoms were moderate to severe. Just over 93.8% of the student respondents used medications to treat symptoms; 91.1% used over-the-counter (OTC) medications, and 55.5% used prescription medications. More than one third had used OTC antihistamines before taking an examination during the previous year. Allergy-like symptoms and associated medication use are common among college-aged students. The authors call for further research to determine whether these OTC and prescription medications affect academic performance.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Boston / epidemiology
  • Drug Prescriptions / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Health Surveys
  • Humans
  • Hypersensitivity / diagnosis
  • Hypersensitivity / drug therapy*
  • Hypersensitivity / epidemiology*
  • Male
  • Nonprescription Drugs*
  • Prevalence
  • Risk Assessment
  • Sampling Studies
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Students
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Universities

Substances

  • Nonprescription Drugs