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[Exposure to pollutants and allergens in the asthmatic child compared with the healthy child]
D M Sarrazola Sanjuan1, M Salas Ramírez, N H Segura Méndez
1Servicio de inmunología clínica y alergia, Hospital de Especialidades. Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, IMSS.
Insights
Children with asthma frequently encounter indoor allergens like tobacco smoke, moisture, and dust. Many asthmatic children lack adequate environmental control, highlighting the need for increased patient and physician education to reduce disease severity.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
Context:
- Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease affecting school-aged children.
- Exposure to indoor allergens and pollutants is a significant factor in asthma exacerbations.
- Understanding exposure patterns is crucial for effective asthma management in children.
Purpose:
- To evaluate the frequency of allergen and indoor pollutant exposure in asthmatic children.
- To compare exposure levels between asthmatic children and healthy controls at initial specialist visits.
- To identify inadequate environmental control measures among pediatric asthma patients.
Summary:
- A study compared 14 asthmatic children with 21 healthy controls using parental questionnaires.
- Asthmatic children showed higher exposure rates to tobacco smoke, home moisture, and dust reservoirs.
- A significant number of asthmatic patients did not implement sufficient environmental control strategies.
Impact:
- Findings underscore the importance of addressing indoor environmental triggers in pediatric asthma.
- Increased education for patients and primary care physicians is recommended to mitigate asthma morbidity.
- This research informs public health strategies for improving asthma outcomes in children.
Abstract:
To assess the frequency of exposure to allergens and indoor pollutants of school age asthmatic children at the time of their first visit to the specialist, we studied 14 cases with the diagnosis of asthma according to international criteria, and 21 healthy controls. The parents of the children filed a questionnaire asking about socio-economic level, family history of asthma, exposure to allergens or indoor pollutants, and clinical severity of the disease. Questionnaires with less than 80% of the responses were excluded from analysis. Asthmatic patients had higher frequency of exposure to tobacco smoke (42.8% vs 38%), moisture in the home walls (42.9% vs 19%), and to dust reservoirs (71.4% vs 52.4%). A high proportion of the asthmatic patients did not apply adequate environmental control measures. Education for the patients and their primary care physicians must be increased, to reduce the morbidity of the diseases.