Environmental factors and childhood asthma.
Indoor allergens are potent triggers for acute and chronic pediatric asthma. Environmental control measures of these allergens should be considered first-line treatment measures. Allergen avoidance can produce changes in disease activity and symptoms that can be beneficial before any medical intervention is implemented. In addition to allergen avoidance, studies evaluating other exposures, such as endotoxin and diet, in the pathogenesis of asthma are in progress. Understanding the complex relationships between exposure and allergy/asthma development is vitally important to the development of potentially more effective primary and secondary prevention strategies.
Phipatanakul
Wanda
W
Harvard Medical School and Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. wanda.phipatanakul@childrens.harvard.edu
D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001249:Asthma / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005658:Fungi; D006801:Humans; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010372:Pediatrics
D000485:Allergens; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides