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Gender differences in indoor allergen exposure and association with current rhinitis

R J Bertelsen1, C Instanes, B Granum

  • 1Department of Environmental Immunology, Division of Environmental Medicine, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Nydalen, Oslo, Norway. randi.jacobsen.bertelsen@fhi.no

Clinical and Experimental Allergy : Journal of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology
|June 16, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Girls exhibit higher indoor cat and dog allergen levels, but only house dust mite (HDM) allergen exposure is linked to rhinitis risk in girls, not boys.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
  • Environmental Health
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Sex differences in allergic disease are established, potentially extending beyond physiological factors.
  • Investigating environmental exposures like indoor allergens is crucial for understanding these differences.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if sex influences exposure to indoor allergens (cat, dog, house dust mite) in children.
  • To examine the association between indoor allergen levels and rhinitis in 10-year-old boys and girls.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of mattress dust for cat, dog, and house dust mite (HDM) allergens in 797 children (360 girls).
  • Collection of interview data on current allergic disease.
  • Statistical analysis to compare allergen levels and rhinitis risk between sexes.

Main Results:

  • Girls showed higher cat and dog allergen concentrations than boys.
  • No significant difference in HDM allergen levels was found between sexes.
  • Increased Der p 1 (HDM) allergen levels were associated with higher rhinitis risk in girls, but not in boys.

Conclusions:

  • Girls have greater exposure to cat and dog allergens, but HDM allergen exposure is the primary risk factor for rhinitis in girls.
  • The association between indoor allergens and rhinitis differs between sexes, highlighting the need for sex-specific environmental health considerations.
Abstract

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