title: Are children׳s asthmatic symptoms related to ambient temperature? A panel study in Australia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the short-term effects of ambient temperature on respiratory symptoms for school children with asthma across Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A panel of 270 children (7-12 years) with asthma was recruited from six Australian cities. They were asked to record their respiratory symptoms every day in the morning (for night-time symptoms) and evening (for daytime symptoms) for four weeks. Daily ambient temperature, relative humidity and air pollution data were obtained from fixed monitors nearby. A mixed logistic regression model was used to examine the effects of ambient temperature on respiratory symptoms adjusted for children's sex, age, standing height, weight and air pollution. Subjects were specified as random effects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The relationships between ambient temperature and respiratory symptoms were linear. Increasing temperatures induced the risks of children's asthmatic symptoms, especially for "wheeze/chest tightness" and to a lesser extent for "cough/phlegm". The effects were acute and lasted for four days (lag 0-3) in general. With increasing ambient temperature, boys were more at risk than girls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High ambient temperature is a risk factor for respiratory symptoms in children with asthma. As ambient temperature increases, policies and strategies for rising temperatures will be necessary to protect asthmatic children.
authors: School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Herston Road, Herston, Brisbane, Queensland 4006, Australia. Electronic address: uqshandy0601@gmail.com.
authors: Shanshan
authors: S
authors: Li
authors: School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Herston Road, Herston, Brisbane, Queensland 4006, Australia.
authors: Peter J
authors: PJ
authors: Baker
authors: Centre for Research, Evidence Management and Surveillance, Sydney and South Western Sydney Local Health District, Liverpool, New South Wales 1871, Australia; School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia.
authors: Bin B
authors: BB
authors: Jalaludin
authors: School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Herston Road, Herston, Brisbane, Queensland 4006, Australia.
authors: Yuming
authors: Y
authors: Guo
authors: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Liverpool Hospital, Elizabeth Street, Liverpool, New South Wales 2170, Australia; Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, 431 Glebe Point Road, Glebe, Sydney, New South Wales 2037, Australia.
authors: Guy B
authors: GB
authors: Marks
authors: Pacific Environment ‒Toxikos, Suite G62, 63 Turner Street, Port Melbourne, Victoria 3207, Australia.
authors: Lyn S
authors: LS
authors: Denison
authors: School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Herston Road, Herston, Brisbane, Queensland 4006, Australia.
authors: Gail M
authors: GM
authors: Williams
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Asthma; Children; Panel study; Respiratory symptoms; Temperature