Symptoms suggestive of atopic rhinitis in children aged 6–9 years and the indoor environment

• DOI: 10.1034/j.1398-9995.2000.00575.x
• Publication Date: 2003-03-11T01:41:44Z
• Authors: A. Zacharasiewicz; T. Zidek; G. Haidinger; T. Waldhör; C. Vutuc; A. Zacharasiewicz; M. Goetz; N. Pearce
• Keywords: Atopy

Background: We aimed to investigate the influence of indoor factors on prevalence symptoms suggestive atopic rhinitis in children aged 6–9 years Upper Austria. Methods: analyzed results from an extended ISAAC (International Study Asthma and Allergies Childhood) questionnaire, answered by parents, about environment strongly suggesting rhinitis. This was defined as having reported a running, obstructed, or itchy nose apart cold last year. The overall response rate 93.4%. After excluding 6016 (17.1%) with changed (due allergies family), we remaining subsample 18606 questionnaires. Results: following were associated increased risk: mother's smoking during pregnancy and/or time breast‐feeding (OR 1.28; CI 1.07–1.52), synthetic bedding 1.21; 1.09–1.36), dampness/mold at home 1.51; 1.31–1.74), central heating gas 1.75; 1.06–2.87), space 1.66; 1.01–2.98). Cooking wood 0.62; 0.46–0.84) negatively symptoms. Conclusions: plays role children. However, population‐attributable risks not particularly high; they between −2.7% 9% for various exposures considered this study.