Comprehensive risk assessments of home environments of low-income, non-inner city preschool-aged children with asthma

Abstract

Rationale Reported prevalence of physician-diagnosed asthma in the Dane County Head Start population was 16%. Comprehensive risk assessments of the indoor environment have not been conducted. Wisconsin Healthy Homes Initiative provides families with comprehensive asthma risk assessments and interventions. Methods Consenting caregivers were administered an asthma screening questionnaire and invited to have their children skin prick tested for relevant indoor allergens. Children were not eligible if they were allergic to cats or dogs and currently living with the animal. In-home assessments included personal interview, visual inspection, vacuum sampling, and continuous humidity monitoring. Results Sixty-six percent of respondents were of an ethnic minority and 33% had at least one family member with asthma. Of the children tested, 72% were allergic to at least 1 allergen. Of the visited homes, 72% were carpeted, 85% had inadequate moisture control measures in the kitchen/bathroom and 30% of families had reported cockroach sightings in the previous year. Evidence of indoor relative humidity higher than 50% was documented in all homes. Mite allergen was predominantly found in the bedroom and Bla g1 in the kitchen. Fifteen percent of bedroom bedding contained mite allergen levels >10ug/g of dust. Conclusions Low-income, non-inner city preschool-aged children have a high prevalence of asthma, indoor allergen sensitivity and exposure. A healthy home for a child with asthma begins with a comprehensive risk assessment.