Asthma and respiratory infections in school children with special reference to moisture and mold problems in the school

Abstract

We found evidence of an association between moisture or mold problems in the school building and the occurrence of respiratory infections, repeated wheezing and prolonged cough in school children.

Health effects of mold exposure in public schools

“…Taskinen et al [13] validate the studies by Savilahti et al [11,12] by concluding that there was evidence of an association between mold contamination and moisture problems in a school building, and the occurrence of respiratory infections, repeated wheezing, and prolonged cough in school children.…”

The September epidemic of asthma hospitalization: School children as disease vectors

“…Cat allergen is transported to school by children on their clothing, 31 and fungal and pollen allergens may be more prevalent and at higher levels in schools than in homes. 32,33 It is feasible that allergen re-exposure and transfer from schools to homes may contribute to post school vacation asthma hospitalization peaks and that the effects observed in this study follow a combination of insults. This interpretation is made more likely by the demonstration that allergen exposure and virus infection have a synergistic interaction in increasing the risk of asthma exacerbation.…”

The September epidemic of asthma exacerbations in children: A search for etiology

“…Cat allergen is transported to school by children on their clothing, 29,30 and fungal and pollen allergens may be more prevalent and at higher levels in the school than in the home. 31,32 Children with asthma may be more susceptible to rhinovirus infections than children without asthma, 16 and exposure to an allergen to which one is sensitized has been shown to act in synergy with viral infection in increasing the risk of asthma exacerbation. 33 The nature of the possible interaction of allergen exposure and rhinovirus infection in increasing the likelihood of asthma exacerbations has not yet been fully articulated, 34-36 but children are re-exposed to both insults on return to school.…”