Text Box: ATOPY IN CHILDHOOD, 1987-2000, RETHYMNO, GREECE Bangaki A, Fotiu A, Varakis N, Pardali A, Pouliasi A General Hospital of Rethymno, Rethymno Crete, Greece Objective: Determine the prevalence of atopy in Rethymno, Crete Methods: We conducted a retrospective study among the 6252 children (0-11 yrs old) examined in the paediatric clinic from 1987-2000. They formed the 80% of the newborn children at this period. Of these, 2433 were found to have a positive family history or manifested signs of allergic disease and were included in this study. Results: The total of 2433 children was divided in 3 groups. Group A was formed of children havig a positive family history and signs of allergic disease. Group B was formed of children having signs of allergic disease only. Group C was formed of 400 (16, 4%) having a positive family history. Groups A, B and C represented a prevalence of atopy 38,9% and groups A and B of active atopy 32,5%. The percentage of mothers who exhibited atopy was 38%. Meanwhile, fathers and other relatives presented a percentage of 18% and 54% respectively. Male children in the groups A and B were 69% and outnumbered female children (31%). Children living in urban areas outnumbered those living in rural areas at a percentage of 2,2%. Atopic signs were presented predominantly in the age group of 0-1 yrs (65,5%). Allergic manifestations were: Group A: Wheezing (WHZ): 375 children, Laryngitis (LRG): 317, Bronchial Asthma (BA): 384, Urticaria (URT): 77, Food Allergy (FA): 36, Drug Allergy (DA): 28, Atopic Dermatits (AD): 68. Group B: WHZ: 233, LRG: 254, BA: 158, URT: 52, FA: 11, DA: 11, AD: 29 The allergic manifestations of the respiratory system formed a percentage of 85%. The age group of 0-1 year presented WHZ at 44,35. LRG at all ages was presented at 28,1% and BA at 26,6%. Children with a positive family history had 11,7% more asthma attacks than those of that with a negative family history. Conclusion: The prevalence of atopy among the children of the 0-11 age group was 38,9% and of latent atopy was 6,4%. The BA was 8,7%, but of AD was 1,5%. 1114