Risk Of Asthma Symptoms Research Articles

Dairy intake in association with asthma symptoms among a large sample of children and adolescents: a cross-sectional study.

Dairy products may be associated with an increased risk of asthma, although there is little scientific evidence to support this association. The goal of this study was to explore the association between dairy consumption and asthma symptoms. This cross-sectional study was conducted on children and adolescents aged 6-8 and 13-14 years living in central Iran. Dietary food consumption was assessed using a multiple-choice questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to obtain odds ratios for the association between milk, other dairy products, and total dairy consumption with the risk of asthma symptoms. In total, 7,667 participants (3,414 boys and 4,253 girls) were included in the current study. Milk intake and total dairy consumption were not associated with the likelihood of wheezing, asthma confirmed by a doctor, current asthma, and asthma medication use. In addition, there was no association between other dairy product intake and the odds of wheezing in the past 12 months in the crude model. However, after adjusting for several confounders, those in the top category had lower odds of wheezing in the past 12 months than those in the bottom category (OR: 0.58; 95% CI: 0.40-0.85). The consumption of dairy products other than milk, including cheese and yogurt, might reduce the likelihood of wheezing in children and adolescents.

Prevalence of Allergic Diseases and Risk Factors in Preschool Children

Allergic diseases are very common in children. The aim of this study is to obtain information about the frequency and risk factors of allergic diseases in kindergarten children aged 3-6 years. This study was carried out between 13.02.2018 and 30.12.2018 in kindergartens, in accordance with the ISAAC Phase I protocol for children aged 3-6 years. The study was carried out by distributing 3000 questionnaires in 20 kindergartens. 2001 out of 2040 collected questionnaires were included in the study. Of the participants, 986 (49.3%) were female and 1015 (50.7%) were male. The frequency of asthma symptoms was 30.4% (n=608). The frequency of allergic rhinitis symptoms was found to be 37.1% (743 people). The risk of asthma symptoms was significantly higher in males, those whose mothers smoked during pregnancy, those born preterm, those with a smoker at home and those with mold in the home (p

Maternal Exposure to Polychlorinated Biphenyls and Asthma, Allergic Rhinitis and Atopic Dermatitis in the Offspring: The Environmental Health Fund Birth Cohort.

Background: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent organic pollutants banned for use worldwide. Due to their biodegradation resistance, they accumulate along the food chain and in the environment. Maternal exposure to PCBs may affect the fetus and the infant. PCBs are immunotoxic and may damage the developing immune system. PCBs are associated with elevated IgE antibodies in cord blood and are considered to be predictive of atopic reactions. Several studies on the association between prenatal exposure to PCBs and atopic reactions were previously published, albeit with conflicting results. Objectives: To examine the association between maternal PCBs levels and atopic reactions in their offspring. Methods: During the years 2013–2015, a prospective birth cohort was recruited at the delivery rooms of Shamir Medical Center (Assaf Harofeh) and “Dana Dwek” Children’s Hospital. Four PCBs congeners were investigated: PCBs 118, 138, 153, and 180. In 2019, when children reached the age of 4–6 years, mothers were interviewed using the ISAAC questionnaire to assess symptoms of atopic reactions, including asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis. Results: One hundred and fifty mother-child dyads were analyzed. No significant differences were found in the median serum PCBs concentrations of each studied congener or total PCBs for asthma, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis diagnosis, or parent-reported symptoms. No association was found between exposure to total PCBs and the risk for asthma symptoms or diagnosis, adjusted to maternal age and family member with atopic condition: aOR = 0.94, 95%CI: (0.88; 0.99). No association was observed between each studied PCB congener and asthma symptoms or diagnosis. The same results were found also for other studied outcomes—allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis. Conclusion: Our study joins a series of previous studies that attempt to shed light on environmental exposures in utero as influencing factors for atopic conditions in children. Our results reflect the complexity of the pathophysiology of these phenomena. No relationship between maternal serum PCBs levels was demonstrated for asthma, allergic rhinitis, or atopic dermatitis. However, additional multi-participant studies, with longer, spanning into later pediatric age follow up are needed.

Prevalence of asthma symptoms and associated factors in adolescents and adults in southern Brazil: A Global Asthma Network Phase I study

BackgroundThe Global Asthma Network (GAN) aims to find out the current status of the prevalence and severity of asthma, rhinitis, and eczema using global surveillance to achieve worldwide recognition and improve the management of asthma, especially in low- and middle-income countries. The aim of this study was to verify the associated factors for asthma in adolescents and their respective parents/caregivers. MethodsAdolescents (13–14 years old; n = 1058) and their respective parents/caregivers (mean age = 42.1 years, n = 896) living in the town of Uruguaiana, Southern Brazil fulfilled the standardized questionnaire. ResultsAlthough the prevalence of wheezing in the past 12 months was higher among adults than adolescents (18.4% vs. 15.8%, respectively), adolescents showed more severe wheezing and worse control over the disease revealed by higher consumption of short-acting beta-2 agonists; going to the emergency room; hospitalization in the last year and dry night cough. Smoking and paracetamol use were associated with risk for developing asthma symptoms and consuming seafood/fish was protective. For the adults smoking (10 or more cigarettes/day) and exposure to mould in the house were associated with risk for asthma symptoms. ConclusionsAdolescents have a high prevalence of asthma symptoms and few have an action plan. Adults do not have their disease under control and they use more relief than preventive medication. Differences in associated factors could determine the outcomes in asthma control among adolescents and their parents.

The association between paracetamol use and the risk of asthma, rhinitis and eczema in the Polish population.

A growing number of epidemiological studies suggest that paracetamol, which is commonly used in children, may be a risk factor for asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic eczema. The aim of this study was to determine and characterize the correlation between paracetamol use and asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic eczema symptoms in the Polish population. The study is part of the ECAP project involving the use of the ISAAC and ECRHS questionnaires. Completed questionnaires of 18,617 subjects, including 10,011 (53.8%) females, were analyzed. Children aged 6-7 (n=4,510), adolescents aged 13-14 (n=4,721), and adults aged 20-44 (n=9,386) constituted 24.2%, 25.4%, and 50.4% of respondents, respectively. Study subjects lived in 8 major urban centres and one rural area. The frequency of paracetamol use during the previous 12 months and symptoms of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic eczema during that period were analyzed. The use of paracetamol was associated with a significant dose-dependent increase in the risk of asthma symptoms in all evaluated age groups. This was demonstrated via odds ratios (OR) for developing asthma symptoms, including wheezing or whistling in the chest in 6-7-year-olds and exercise-induced shortness of breath in 13-14-year-olds and adults, depending on the frequency of paracetamol use in the previous 12 months, compared to no paracetamol intake during that period. The use of paracetamol in the last 12 months was associated with a significant dose-dependent increase in the risk of rhinitis and skin allergy symptoms, as demonstrated by the odds ratio. Therefore, frequent paracetamol use may be a risk factor for symptoms of asthma, rhinitis, and skin allergy in the Polish population.

Risk of asthma symptoms among workers in health care settings

Risk of asthma symptoms among workers in health care settings

Impact of early childhood air pollution on respiratory status of school children

Introduction: In previous papers we analysed the incidence of wheezing in young children living near the iron and steel factory in Călăraşi, and in a control region (Roseţi) without industrial air pollution. Research question: Is industrial air pollution exposure during the first years of life a risk factor for the presence of asthmatic symptoms in children at school age? Methods: We assessed the prevalence of asthma symptoms using the ISAAC short form questionnaire for children aged 6–7 years, and measured the FEV1 and PEF in the children of both municipalities (297 children in Călăraşi, i.e. the exposed cohort, and 237 in Roseţi, i.e. the non-exposed cohort). Results: We found an OR of 7.2 (95% CI: 3.6–14.3) for affirmative answers to at least one of ISAAC questions for children living in Călăraşi compared to the children in Roseţi. The numbers of affirmative answers to all but one of the ISAAC questions were significantly higher in Călăraşi. The main result remained robust after adjusting for a series of co-variables using multiple logistic regression analysis (OR 14.8; 95% CI: 4.8–46.1). There was a strong relation between early life wheezing and asthma symptoms at school age (OR 9.0; 95%CI: 3.4–23.5).Conclusion: Children, who had been living near an iron and steel factory during their early years, are still at increased risk for asthma symptoms at school age.

There’s a Mouse in the House

A total of 82% of US homes had detectable mouse allergen levels. In 35% of homes, the MUP level exceeded 1.6 μg/g of dust, a level associated with increased rates of mouse sensitization. In individuals with reported allergic disease, MUP levels greater than 1.6 μg/g were associated with an increased risk of asthma symptoms (OR, 1.93; 95% CI, 1.14–3.27), but not in those who were not allergic to any allergens.

Prevalence and risk of asthma symptoms among firefighters in São Paulo, Brazil: A population‐based study

The firefighters are at increased risk of respiratory disease as a result of exposure to smoke and dust. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk associated with respiratory symptoms among city firefighters in São Paulo, Brazil. A cross-sectional study utilizing the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) questionnaire was administered to firefighters and police officers, in order to evaluate their respiratory symptoms. Complete respiratory data were obtained from 1,235 firefighters and 1,839 police officers. Among the firefighters, there were 55.5% never-smokers, 22.4% current smokers and 18.2% former smokers (P < 0.05). Among the police officers, there were 63.4%, 18.6%, and 9.6% who were never-smokers, current smokers and former smokers (P < 0.05), respectively. Compared to police, firefighters experienced an increase in wheezing [OR = 1.63 (95% CI: 1.43-1.87)], wheezing with breathlessness [OR = 1.34 (95% CI: 1.10-1.64)], wheezing without a cold [OR = 1.60 (95% CI: 1.32-1.95)], waking with tightness in the chest [OR = 1.20 (95% CI: 1.02-1.42)], and rhinitis [OR = 1.12 (95% CI: 1.03-1.22)]. The prevalence of adult-onset asthma in never-smokers was 9.3% and 6.7% for firefighters and police officers [OR = 1.23 (95% CI: 1.01-1.56)]. An independent association was observed between years employed, smoking, history of rhinitis, and work as a firefighter and respiratory and nasal symptoms. We observed a high prevalence of asthma-like symptoms in firefighters who presented respiratory symptoms beginning immediately after firefighting. These results suggest that the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and asthma in firefighters is higher than those in police officers. Work-as a firefighter, rhinitis and years employed were risk factors for respiratory symptoms of asthma.

Environmental Tobacco Smoke, Woodstove Heating and Risk of Asthma Symptoms

The effect of common indoor combustion heating sources on childhood asthma is not well described. The objective was to determine if the use of woodstoves in the home or other factors such as environmental tobacco smoke exposure were associated with the frequency of asthma-related symptoms among children in a rural community. Having a person in the household who smoked was associated with a more than doubling in risk for wheezing and other asthma-related symptoms. The use of woodstoves or other types of heating in the homes of children was not associated with reported wheezing during the winter.