The very high levels of house dust mite allergen (Der p 1) found in Wellington are likely to be due to a variety of life-style and climatic factors. However, the type and age of floor covering appears to be the single most important factor.

Objective : As in other English‐speaking countries, asthma is a major and increasing health problem in New Zealand. This study examined the risk factors for asthma in children aged 7–9. Methods : Cases and controls were randomly selected from participants in the Wellington arm of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). Cases were children with a previous diagnosis of asthma and current medication use (n=233), and controls were children with no history of wheezing and no diagnosis of asthma (n=241). Results : After controlling for confounders, factors significantly associated with asthma were maternal (OR=3.36, 95% Cl 1.88–5.99) and paternal asthma (OR=2.67, 95% Cl 1.42–5.02), and male sex (OR=1.81, 95% Cl 1.17–2.81). Children from social classes 5 and 6 or with unemployed parents (OR=2.32, 95% Cl 1.22–4.44) were significantly more likely to have asthma than children in social classes 1 and 2. There was no significant association between having polio vaccination (OR=2.48, 95% Cl 0.83–7.41), hepatitis B vaccination (OR=0.66, 95% Cl 0.42–1.04) or measles/mumps/rubella vaccination (OR=1.43, 95% Cl 0.85–2.41) and asthma. Conclusions : This study has confirmed the associations of family history and lower socio‐economic status with current asthma in 7–9 year old children. The role of vaccinations requires further research.

The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between the indoor environment, atopy and asthma in 7-9-year-old children. Cases and controls were randomly selected from children who participated in the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) in Wellington, New Zealand. Cases were children with a previous diagnosis of asthma and current medication use (n = 233) and controls were children with no history of wheezing and no diagnosis of asthma (n = 241). Information was recorded about the indoor environment during the first year of life and currently. Dust was sampled from floors and beds and Der p 1 and Fel d 1 measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Skin-prick tests were performed with eight common allergens. Sensitization to Dermatophagoides farinae (OR = 3.19; 95% CI 1.74-5.84), Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (OR = 2.06; 95% CI 1.16-3.65) and cat (OR = 3.89; 95% CI 1.06-14.30) were independently associated with current asthma. The use of a sheepskin in the first year of life (OR = 1.91; 95% CI 1.11-3.33) was also independently associated with current asthma but current Der p 1 levels showed no association with current asthma. Exposures in early life may be more important than current exposures in determining asthma at age 7-9 years. Prospective studies are needed in New Zealand to determine the relative importance of early life exposures to Der p 1 and other risk factors for asthma.

We examined depressive symptoms, using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), in a group of 50 alcoholic patients, diagnosed according to DSM III criteria during active drinking, withdrawal (4 days after their last drink), and abstinence (24 days after their last drink). DSM III diagnoses of major depression were made in 16 (32%) of the patients. The diagnoses were made using the NIMH Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS) between the 10th and 24th day after the patients' last drink. Depressive symptoms decreased markedly as the patients progressed from active drinking to abstinence. Alcoholic patients having a diagnosis of major depression had higher BDI scores than those not having a diagnosis of major depression. Analysis of BDI items using a two-parameter logistic item response model confirmed that the BDI measured depressive symptoms in these alcoholics. We conclude that the BDI is valid for screening for depression in alcoholic patients.