Indoor airborne fungal spores and home characteristics in asthmatic children from Edirne region of Turkey.

BACKGROUND: The contribution of indoor fungal exposure to childhood asthma is not completely clear. OBJECTIVE: To investigate airborne fungal flora within the homes of asthmatic and control children, and to assess the influence of housing characteristics regarding indoor fungi. METHODS: Forty-seven atopic asthmatic and 23 nonatopic control children were studied. Allergen sensitivity was determined by skin prick tests. A thorough assessment, using a questionnaire and inspection surveys, was carried out. Home visits were made between October 2000 and February 2001. Samples of airborne fungal spores were collected from four rooms by the "open Petri dish" method. Indoor temperature and humidity were measured. RESULTS: The total indoor fungal colony counts from the living rooms and bedrooms were significantly higher in the asthma group than in controls (p = .012 and p = .003, respectively). The most commonly isolated genus was Cladosporium. Twelve of the asthmatic patients (25.53 %) were found to be sensitive to fungal allergens. The factors found to be associated with indoor fungal growth in logistic regression were visible fungal patches in the bathrooms [(odds ratio (OR) = 5.75; 95 % CI 1.19 to 27.70)], and the age of the house [OR = 4.24; 95 % CI 1.34 to 13.45]. Total fungal colony numbers did not correlate with indoor temperature or humidity. CONCLUSION: Fungal colony numbers were higher in the homes of asthmatic children than in those of controls. Therefore, indoor fungal exposure may contribute to childhood asthma. Bathrooms were the main source of fungal propagules. Old houses were more prone to fungal growth.

Indoor airborne fungal spores and home characteristics in asthmatic children from Edirne region of Turkey

Background: The contribution of indoor fungal exposure to childhood asthma is not completely clear. Objective: To investigate airborne fungal flora within the homes of asthmatic and control children, and to assess the influence of housing characteristics regarding indoor fungi. Methods: Forty-seven atopic asthmatic and 23 nonatopic control children were studied. Allergen sensitivity was determined by skin prick tests. A thorough assessment, using a questionnaire and inspection surveys, was carried out. Home visits were made between October 2000 and February 2001. Samples of airborne fungal spores were collected from four rooms by the "open Petri dish" method. Indoor temperature and humidity were measured. Results: The total indoor fungal colony counts from the living rooms and bedrooms were significantly higher in the asthma group than in controls (p = .012 and p = .003, respectively). The most commonly isolated genus was Cladosporium. Twelve of the asthmatic patients (25.53 %) were found to be sensitive to fungal allergens. The factors found to be associated with indoor fungal growth in logistic regression were visible fungal patches in the bathrooms [(odds ratio (OR) = 5.75; 95 % CI 1.19 to 27.70)], and the age of the house [OR = 4.24; 95 % CI 1.34 to 13.45]. Total fungal colony numbers did not correlate with indoor temperature or humidity. Conclusion: Fungal colony numbers were higher in the homes of asthmatic children than in those of controls. Therefore, indoor fungal exposure may contribute to childhood asthma. Bathrooms were the main source of fungal propagules. Old houses were more prone to fungal growth (AU)

Historial: La contribución al asma infantil a causa de la exposición a hongos de interior no está totalmente clara. Objetivo: Intentamos investigar la flora de hongos que se encuentra en el aire dentro de los hogares de los niños asmáticos y los niños controlados, así como determinar la influencia de las características de la casa respecto a los hongos de interior. Métodos: Cuarenta y siete niños asmáticos y veintitrés niños controlados no alérgicos. La reacción alérgica se determinó mediante pruebas de alergia. Se llevó a cabo una evaluación exhaustiva utilizando un cuestionario y encuestas de inspección. Las visitas domiciliarias fueron realizadas entre octubre de 2000 y febrero de 2001. Las muestras de las esporas de hongos aerotransportadas fueron recogidas en cuatro habitaciones por el método de la "placa de Petri abierta". Se midió la temperatura y la humedad interior. Resultados: El número total de hongos de interior en las salas de estar y en los dormitorios era notablemente más elevado en el grupo de asmáticos que en el otro grupo (p = ,012 y p = ,003, respectivamente). El género aislado más común fue el Cladosporium. Doce de los pacientes asmáticos (25,53 por ciento) resultaron ser sensibles a los hongos. La regresión logística puso en evidencia que las manchas de hongos visibles en los cuartos de baño [(cociente de las probabilidades (O) = 5,75; 95 por ciento del ci 1,19 a 27,70)], y la antigüedad de la casa [O = 4,24; 95 por ciento del ci 1,34 a 13,45], estaban correlacionados con el crecimiento de los hongos de interior. El número total de hongos de la colonia no está relacionado con la temperatura o la humedad interior. Conclusión: El número de hongos de la colonia era más elevado en los hogares de niños asmáticos que en los controlados. Por lo tanto, la exposición a hongos de interior puede contribuir al desarrollo del asma infantil. Los cuartos de baño eran la fuente principal de propagación de hongos. Las casas viejas eran más propensas al crecimientote los hongos (AU)

Egg and milk allergy in asthmatic children: assessment by immulite allergy food panel, skin prick tests and double-blind placebo-controlled food challenges.

There is a perception that asthmatic symptoms may be worsoned by ingestion of certain foods. This study aimed to investigate whether ingestion of cow's milk or egg might induce respiratory symptoms in asthmatic children. Fifty asthmatic children aged 1.5 to 6 years old, with positive Immulite Food Panel FP5 test results were included in the study. Fifty healthy children within the same age group were accepted as control group. Total serum IgE levels were measured and skin prick tests for food allergens including milk and egg were performed. All of the subjects underwent oral, double-blind, placebo-controlled challenge with fresh egg and cow's milk powder. Two medical histories were confirmed by double-blind, placebo-controlled challenge in 9 patients (22.2%). Skin prick tests were positive in 9 patients (18%) with milk and 18 patients (36%) with egg antigen. Two children experienced wheezing, one after ingesting milk and the other after egg challenge (4%). In the control group no positive reactions were seen with egg or milk challenges. Our findings confirm that food allergy can elicit asthma in children, but its incidence is low, even with major allergens such as egg and milk. History, specific IgE determinations and skin prick tests are not reliable in diagnosing food reactions. Since any diet can cause rapid deficiencies in infancy, diet restrictions must not be applied, without performing double-blind, placebo-controlled challenge.