Dose-response relationships between mouse allergen exposure and asthma morbidity among urban children and adolescents

Abstract

Home mouse allergen exposure is associated with asthma morbidity, but little is known about the shape of the dose-response relationship or the relevance of location of exposure within the home. Asthma outcome and allergen exposure data were collected every three months for 1 year in 150 urban children with asthma. Participants were stratified by mouse sensitization and relationships between continuous measures of mouse allergen exposure and outcomes of interest were analyzed. Every ten-fold increase in the bed mouse allergen level was associated with an 87% increase in the odds of any asthma-related health care use among mouse sensitized (OR (95% CI): 1.87 (1.21–2.88)), but not non-mouse sensitized participants. Similar relationships were observed for emergency department visit and unscheduled doctor visit among mouse sensitized participants. Kitchen floor and bedroom air mouse allergen concentrations were also associated with greater odds of asthma-related healthcare utilization; however, the magnitude of the association was less than that observed for bed mouse allergen concentrations. In this population of urban children with asthma, there is a linear dose-response relationship between mouse allergen concentrations and asthma morbidity among mouse-sensitized asthmatics. Bed and bedroom air mouse allergen exposure compartments may have a greater impact on asthma morbidity than other compartments.

Effects of Allergic Phenotype on Respiratory Symptoms and Exacerbations in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

“…Patients with COPD suffer significant morbidity, including respiratory symptoms that adversely affect quality of life and limit activity (4). Given the significant morbidity, understanding the different factors that contribute to symptom burden in COPD is an important focus of research.Allergic sensitization, assessed by allergen-specific IgE or skin prick testing, is a known risk factor for asthma (5, 6), and exposure to specific allergens in sensitized patients with asthma is known to worsen pulmonary symptoms (7,8). National and international guidelines recommend assessment of allergic sensitization and environmental exposures in patients with asthma (9).…”

“…Allergic sensitization, assessed by allergen-specific IgE or skin prick testing, is a known risk factor for asthma (5, 6), and exposure to specific allergens in sensitized patients with asthma is known to worsen pulmonary symptoms (7,8). National and international guidelines recommend assessment of allergic sensitization and environmental exposures in patients with asthma (9).…”

Une première évaluation en France de la présence d’allergènes de rongeurs dans les bâtiments publics

“…Une relation dose-réponse linéaire a été montrée récemment entre les concentrations d'allergènes de souris et la morbidité de l'asthme chez les enfants et adolescents citadins sensibilisés aux allergènes de souris [9]. La répartition des allergènes varie en fonction des lieux.…”

Environmental Health Education for Teachers: Results of Pre- and Post-surveys from a Pilot Study Addressing Chemical Use Reduction and Integrated Pest Management in Homes

“…Shared messages and education on IPM and CR inadults and children in the United States, respectively [7]. It is imperative for all households to understand and control adverse exposures in the home that contribute to asthma and other respiratory illnesses [8][9][10][11][12] and to maintain a clean home free of pests [13,14]. In the 2011 United States Housing Survey, it was estimated that over 13 million housing units across the nation (out of 132 million) had seen signs of cockroaches in the last 12 months.…”

“…Traditional science education in middle school, grades 5 through 8 (i.e., ages [10][11][12][13][14], is often purely objective, rational, and rigid in it instruction, requiring the teacher to follow specific standards of delivery and separation of biology, chemistry, and physics concepts [27]. Environmental health education, on the other hand, is often a diverse mix of concepts, where current environmental controversies such as global warming and industrial pollution require all four dimensions (i.e., nominal, functional, conceptual, and procedural) of science literacy [1].…”