Background Allergy is associated with considerable morbidity. Objective The aim of this multicenter study was to provide insight into allergy knowledge and perceptions among the population. Methods During the World Allergy Day, several allergy clinics conducted public meetings to encourage the awareness of and education in allergy. At the beginning, participants filled out a questionnaire to assess their knowledge about what is allergy and to determine by whom those symptoms are cared. Results A total of 256 participants (187 women/69 men, mean age, 31.2 ± 12.5 years) completed the survey. Of the 202 participants with symptoms, 58.9% had physician-diagnosed allergic disease. Among the 19 symptoms evaluated, 56.5% of the symptoms were recognized as related with allergy, and this increased in compliance with education level (r = +0.427; P P = 0.34). Sneezing was the most common symptom thought to be related with allergy-related symptom (77.5%), whereas loss of smell was the least one (37.9%). Participants were more likely to be cared by an allergologist (72.9%) followed by other specialties, when experiencing allergy. Conclusions Increasing the awareness for allergic symptoms is the key not only for the diagnosis but also for the optimal treatment. Therefore, education is an important component of prevention and control of allergic diseases.
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机译：背景过敏与高发病率有关。目的这项多中心研究的目的是深入了解人群中的过敏知识和知觉。方法在世界过敏日期间，几家过敏诊所举行了公开会议，以鼓励人们提高对过敏的认识并进行过敏教育。开始时，参与者填写了一份问卷，以评估他们对什么是过敏的知识，并确定由谁照顾这些症状。结果共有256名参与者（187名女性/ 69名男性，平均年龄31.2±12.5岁）完成了调查。在有症状的202位参与者中，有58.9％患有医生诊断的过敏性疾病。在所评估的19种症状中，有56.5％的症状被认为与过敏有关，并且这种增加与教育水平相符（r = +0.427; P P = 0.34）。打喷嚏是被认为与过敏相关症状有关的最常见症状（77.5％），而嗅觉丧失最少的一种症状（37.9％）。参加者在遇到过敏症时，更容易受到过敏科医师的照顾（72.9％），其次是其他专业。结论提高对过敏症状的认识不仅是诊断的关键，也是最佳治疗的关键。因此，教育是预防和控制过敏性疾病的重要组成部分。
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