Outcomes are reported from the 5 New Zealand centres that participated in Phase One (1993) and Phase Three (2001–2003) of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). The first phase found a high prevalence of symptoms of eczema in New Zealand and Phase Three sought to determine whether the prevalence of eczema was changing over time, whether prevalence differs by ethnicity, and to clarify the risk factors for eczema. Whereas there was little change in prevalence over time for the children (6–7-year-olds), eczema decreased in prevalence among the adolescents (13–14-year-olds). Prevalence was higher among Māori and even higher among Pacific participants than among European children. In both age groups, current eczema symptoms were positively associated with truck traffic in the street of residence and with current paracetamol consumption, while for children only, a positive association was seen between current eczema and antibiotics or paracetamol in the 1st year of life. Residence in New Zealand for <5 years, consumption of milk, seafood and eggs, and presence of a dog in the home, were all inversely associated with current eczema.
