Asthma and Environmental Factors in Children

Abstract

Summary. Asthma is one of the most prevalent atopic diseases in childhood. It is characterized by infl ammation of conductive airways and bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Environmental factors introduced to child in early years of life may have a protective or harmful role in developing atopic diseases. To evaluate the infl uence of some environmental factors such as cat or dog ownership, smoking of mother or father and environmental pollution on prevalence of wheezing in children. Subjects and methods: This was a cross sectional retrospective study. A questionnaire was designed based on International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). Parents of the subjects were asked to fi ll in the questionnaires. Children's wheezing association with keeping cats and dogs, smoking mother and father and frequency of truck passing in place of residence was investigated. 545 children were recruited in our study. Prevalence of wheezing was 9%. Keeping cats in fi rst year of life and last year was associated with less wheezing. But the latter association was not statistically signifi cant. Keeping dogs was so scarce in area of our study, so we could not perform a rightful analysis. Frequency of truck passing was signifi cantly higher in those with wheezing. Keeping cats in fi rst year of life was a signifi cant protective factor, whereas residence in an area with frequent truck passing increased wheezing in children. Results of our study can emphasize the need to keep children away from polluted areas. Further studies are needed to investigate whether keeping a pet in household can benefi t children regarding all possible concerns and benefi ts.

Years of life lost due to asthma in a population-based 10-year study in Yazd, Iran

“…[ 1 ] However, asthma is better managed in modern medicine, still many environmental factors, and allergens such as pet exposure at home or air pollution of the living area may contribute to the beginning of an asthma attack. [ 2 3 ]…”