Mouse exposure and wheeze in the first year of life.
BACKGROUND
Studies have found that exposure to mice is highly prevalent among children with asthma living in urban areas.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the relationship between exposure to mice and wheeze in the first year of life.


METHODS
We conducted an ongoing prospective birth cohort study of 498 children with a history of allergy or asthma in at least 1 parent living in metropolitan Boston (the Home Allergens and Asthma Study).


RESULTS
In a multivariate analysis, infants whose parents reported exposure to mice in the household had nearly twice the odds of developing any wheeze in the first year of life as children without exposure (odds ratio [OR], 1.83; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.14-2.95; P = .01). Other variables associated with wheeze in the first year of life included low birth weight (OR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.06-2.95; P = .03), having at least 1 lower respiratory tract illness (OR, 5.59; 95% CI, 3.46-9.04; P < .001), exposure to high levels of endotoxin at age 2 to 3 months (fourth quartile compared with first quartile: OR, 2.32; 95% CI, 1.19-4.54; P = .01), and exposure to cockroach allergen of 0.05 U/g of dust or more at age 2 to 3 months (OR, 1.83; 95% CI, 1.09-3.08; P = .02).


CONCLUSIONS
Among children with a parental history of asthma or allergies, exposure to mice is associated with wheeze in the first year of life, independent of other factors.
Phipatanakul
Wanda
W
Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. wanda.phipatanakul@childrens.harvard.edu
Celedón
Juan C
JC
Sredl
Diane L
DL
Weiss
Scott T
ST
Gold
Diane R
DR
D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000235:genetics; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005191:Family Characteristics; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice / Q000276:immunology*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010290:Parents; D011136:Polysorbates; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics; D012307:Risk Factors; D014505:Urban Population
D000485:Allergens; D011136:Polysorbates