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Asthma and indoor environment in Nepal
T Melsom1, L Brinch, J O Hessen
1Institute of Community Medicine, University of Tromsø, Norway. toralfm@hotmail.com
Thorax
|May 22, 2001
Summary
Exposure to indoor cattle in Nepal was linked to a reduced risk of childhood asthma. Conversely, passive smoking and smoky fuel use increased asthma risk, particularly in boys, suggesting environmental factors influence asthma development.
Area of Science:
- Environmental epidemiology
- Pediatric respiratory health
- Global health disparities
Background:
- Western lifestyles are linked to increased asthma prevalence.
- Indoor environmental factors may play a role in asthma development.
- Nepal offers a unique setting to study asthma due to its distinct lifestyle and home environment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between indoor environmental factors and asthma in Nepalese schoolchildren.
- To assess the impact of lifestyle and home environment differences on asthma risk.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 121 schoolchildren with asthma and 126 controls (aged 11-17).
- Data collected through standardized questionnaires and home investigations.
- Participants identified from the International Study of Asthma and Allergy in Childhood (ISAAC) in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Main Results:
- Keeping cattle indoors at night was associated with a significantly lower risk of asthma (OR 0.2).
- Asthma risk was higher with increased family smoking (OR 1.9) and domestic use of smoky fuels (OR 2.2).
- Passive smoking and smoky fuel use were significant risk factors for asthma primarily in boys.
Conclusions:
- Indoor exposure to cattle may offer protection against asthma in children.
- Passive smoking and indoor smoky fuel use are significant risk factors for childhood asthma in Nepal.
- Exposure to cattle-related allergens or microorganisms might protect against atopic disease development.