title: Indoor Air Problems and Hoarseness in Children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A well-functioning voice is becoming increasingly important because voice-demanding professions are increasing. The largest proportion of voice disorders is caused by factors in the environment. Moisture damage is common and can initiate microbial growth and/or diffusion of chemicals from building materials. Indoor air problems due to moisture damage are associated with a number of health symptoms, for example, rhinitis, cough, and asthma symptoms. The purpose of this study was to investigate if children attending a day care center, preschool, or school with indoor air problems due to moisture damage were hoarse more often than the children in a control group.
  
  
  METHODS
  Information was collected through electronic and paper questionnaires from the parents of 6- to 9-year-old children (n = 1857) attending 57 different day care centers, preschools, or schools with or without indoor air problems due to moisture damage.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed a significant correlation between the degree of indoor air problem due to moisture damage and the frequency of hoarseness. Significant predictors for the child being hoarse every week or more often were dry cough, phlegm cough, and nasal congestion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate that these symptoms and exposure to indoor air problems due to moisture damage should be included in voice anamnesis. Furthermore, efforts should be made to remediate indoor air problems due to moisture damage and to treat health symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Logopedics, Faculty of Arts, Psychology, and Theology, Åbo Akademi University, Fabriksgatan 2, 20500 Åbo, Finland. Electronic address: ekallvik@abo.fi.
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kallvik
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Turku, Lemminkäinengatan 1, 20520 Åbo, Finland.
authors.forename: Tuula
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Putus
authors.affiliation: Logopedics, Faculty of Arts, Psychology, and Theology, Åbo Akademi University, Fabriksgatan 2, 20500 Åbo, Finland.
authors.forename: Susanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Simberg
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002656:Child Day Care Centers; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006685:Hoarseness / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012574:Schools; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014833:Voice Quality; D014871:Water Microbiology
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants
keywords: Children; Health symptoms; Hoarseness; Indoor air problems; Moisture damage; School buildings