title: Peak-flow variability in asthmatic children is not related to wall-to-wall carpeting on classroom floors.
abstract: The hypothesis was tested that wall-to-wall carpets on school classroom floors have a negative effect on the respiratory health of asthmatic children. Asthmatic patients (n = 98) were selected from the records of the Sophia Children's Hospital in Rotterdam. The patients were between 5 and 11 years old. All children had peak-flow measurements three times a day for a 1-month period. The parents of the children completed a diary in which respiratory symptoms and medication use were recorded daily for the same period. Dust samples were taken from classroom floors, living-room and bedroom floors, and mattresses of the children. The dust samples were analyzed for Der p I content, the major allergen of the house-dust mite Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. The results of the study showed that there was no significant difference between children visiting schools with or without carpeted classroom floors in peak-flow variability, acute respiratory symptoms, or medication use. The Der p I content of dust collected from classroom floors was much lower than of dust collected from homes. There was a significant correlation between peak-flow variability and mattress dust Der p I content in asthmatic children sensitized to dust mites, but not between peak-flow variability and classroom floor dust Der p I content. We concluded that carpeted classroom floors do not contribute to asthma symptom severity, possibly because of the low levels of Der p I on them.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Wageningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Voûte
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Zock
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brunekreef
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: de Jongste
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004391:Dust / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005430:Floors and Floorcoverings; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate; D012574:Schools
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D004391:Dust; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D006023:Glycoproteins