title: Domestic exposure to fungi and total serum IgE levels in asthmatic children.
abstract: We measured the number of airborne, viable fungi and house dust mite (HDM) allergen levels in the homes of a group of asthmatic children. Blood samples were drawn and the amounts of total and specific serum IgE were determined. The association between the number of fungal colonies, dust mite allergen exposure, and specific and total IgE was evaluated. The number of viable airborne fungi was high (20,543 CFU/m(3)) in those investigated houses. Der p1 concentrations on child's mattress exceeding 2 microg/g were found in 78.6% of the houses. A quantitative dose-response relationship was demonstrated between the exposure to viable, airborne molds and the amount of total IgE (r = 0.4399 and P = .0249) and the level was further increased in children with coexposure to viable fungi and HDM.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Medical College, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Huey-Jen Jenny
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Pei-Chih
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Huan-Yao
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.forename: Jiu-Yao
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D004391:Dust / Q000276:immunology; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005658:Fungi / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000503:physiopathology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood*; D008925:Mites / Q000276:immunology; D011897:Random Allocation; D012044:Regression Analysis
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D004391:Dust; D007073:Immunoglobulin E