Respiratory morbidity among children following renovation of a water-damaged school.
The authors sought to determine whether exposure to molds, resulting from moisture damage in a school, was associated with increased respiratory symptoms and morbidity among schoolchildren and whether the renovation of this building resulted in a decrease in prevalence of respiratory symptoms and morbidity. The study was a follow-up (1-y interval) of children between the ages of 7 and 12 y from two elementary schools in a Finnish suburb. In addition to a questionnaire completed by the parents, the authors assessed the respiratory health of children by examining the health records of a local health center. In the cross-sectional study, the prevalence of symptoms and infections were higher in the exposed group, as were visits to a physician and use of antibiotics. The school was renovated, after which all prevalence decreased and no significant differences remained, except for visits to a physician (according to questionnaire responses). Therefore, moisture damage and exposure to molds increased the indoor air problems of schools and affected the respiratory health of children.
Savilahti
R
R
Espoo Health Center, Finland.
Uitti
J
J
Laippala
P
P
Husman
T
T
Roto
P
P
D002648:Child; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005160:Facility Design and Construction; D005260:Female; D005658:Fungi / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012016:Reference Values; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012574:Schools; D018877:Sick Building Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D004785:Environmental Pollutants