Objective: The prevalence of allergic rhinitis and allergic diseases has been reported to be higher in urban than in rural areas. Studies in Turkey have yielded different results for different regions. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of allergic rhinitis among the collage students in Kayseri, Turkey.

Materials and Methods: We recruited 1214 collage students who are boarding in the dormitories, that have low socio-economic situation, partly belonging to families from different areas of Kayseri and administered the questionnaire of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC).

Results: According to the results of the questionnaire, 99 (15.68%) male and 83 (14.27%) female students had allergic rhinitis symptoms, and the difference was not statistically significant (p> 0.05). The rate of lifetime rhinitis was 24.24% (n= 153) in males and 25.25% (n= 147) in females. The rate of allergic rhinitis that was doctor diagnosed and treated were 4.03% (n= 49/1214).

Conclusion: This study on the epidemiology of allergic rhinitis performed among the students in Kayseri. In this study, the prevalence of allergic rhinitis in students who are boarding in the dormitories, have low socio-economic situation and belong to families from different areas of Kayseri was documented. Further prevalance studies using a standardized methodology for allergic rhinitis in Turkey are needed to facilitate making comparisons within and between countries.