title: Mold exposure during infancy as a predictor of potential asthma development.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Exposure to mold has been associated with exacerbation of asthma symptoms in children.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To report how the presence of visible mold and exposure to (1-3)-beta-D-glucan in infancy affects the risk of asthma at the age of 3 years as defined by an Asthma Predictive Index (API).
  
  
  METHODS
  Visible mold was evaluated by means of home inspection. (1-3)-beta-D-glucan levels were measured in settled dust. Children were considered to be at high risk for asthma at later ages if they reported recurrent wheezing at the age of 3 years and met at least 1 of 3 major or 2 of 3 minor API criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Children aged 3 years with high visible mold in the home during infancy were 7 times more likely to have a positive API than were those with no visible mold (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 7.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.2-12.6). In contrast, at low (1-3)-beta-D-glucan levels (< 22 microg/g), children were at increased risk of a positive API (aOR, 3.4; 95% CI, 0.5-23.5), whereas those with high (1-3)-beta-D-glucan levels (> 133 microg/g) were at decreased risk (aOR, 0.6; 95% CI, 0.2-1.6). Of the other covariates, mother's smoking was the strongest significant risk factor for the future development of asthma based on a positive API (aOR, 4.4; 95% CI, 1.7-11.6).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of high visible mold and mother's smoking during infancy were the strongest risk factors for a positive API at the age of 3 years, suggesting an increased risk of asthma. High (1-3)-beta-D-glucan exposure seems to have an opposite effect on API than does visible mold.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267-0056, USA.
authors.forename: Yulia Y
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Iossifova
authors.forename: Tiina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Reponen
authors.forename: Patrick H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Levin
authors.forename: David I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Bernstein
authors.forename: James E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Lockey
authors.forename: Gurjit K Khurana
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Hershey
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Villareal
authors.forename: Grace
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: LeMasters
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005658:Fungi / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens