Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med.,
Volume 157, Number 2, February 1998, 410-414
Residential Dampness Problems and Symptoms
and Signs of Bronchial Obstruction in Young
Norwegian Children
PER
NAFSTAD,
LEIF
ØIE,
REIDAR
MEHL,
PER I.
GAARDER,
KARIN C.L
ØDRUP-CARLSEN,
GRETE
BOTTEN,
PER
MAGNUS,
and
JOUNI J. K.
JAAKKOLA
Section of Epidemiology, Department of Population Health Sciences, National Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway;
Department of Pediatrics, Ullevål Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Harvard University, School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts;
and Environmental Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
To assess the role of dampness problems and house dust mite exposure in the development of bronchial obstruction in early life, a cohort of 3,754 children born in Oslo during 1992 and 1993 was followed for 2 yr. Bronchial obstruction was defined as two or more episodes with symptoms and signs
of obstruction or one lasting 1 mo or more. A matched case-control study was carried out in 251 cases of bronchial obstruction (response rate: 98%) and their 251 paired controls. Information on
home dampness problem(s), house dust mite exposure, and potential confounders was collected
during home visits and by questionnaires. Dampness problems were confirmed in the homes of 27%
of the cases and 14% of the controls, while a concentration of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus allergens > 2 µg/g dust was found in the beds of 11 (4.5%) cases and three (1.2%) controls. In conditional logistic regression analysis controlling for potential confounders, confirmed dampness problems increased the risk of bronchial obstruction (adjusted odds ratio: 3.8; 95% confidence interval:
2.0-7.2). Exposure to D. pteronyssinus allergens > 2 µg/g dust increased the risk of bronchial obstruction (adjusted odds ratio: 2.8; 95% confidence interval: 0.7-11.7). Residential dampness problems in
Oslo dwellings seem to increase symptoms and signs of bronchial obstruction in young children, apparently without increasing their exposure to house dust mites.
