Garrett M H, Rayment P R, Hooper M A, Abramson M J, Hooper B M
School of Applied Sciences, Monash University, Churchill, Victoria, Australia.
Clin Exp Allergy. 1998 Apr;28(4):459-67. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2222.1998.00255.x.
Children living in a damp house are more likely to suffer from respiratory symptoms and it has been suggested that exposure to fungi is an important contributing factor. However, more knowledge about underlying mechanisms for the association are needed.
To identify associations between measures of house dampness, levels of airborne fungal spores, housing factors and health outcomes in children.
Eighty households with 148 children between 7 and 14 years of age were recruited in the Latrobe Valley, Victoria, Australia. Some 36% of participating children were asthmatic. Six sampling visits were made to each house between March 1994 and February 1995 on a 2-monthly cycle. Samples for airborne total and viable fungal spores were collected from bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens and outdoors. A detailed dwelling characterization, using a questionnaire and inspection surveys, was carried out. Skin-prick tests were performed with extracts of common aeroallergens and a respiratory questionnaire was completed for each child.
Large airborne fungal spore concentrations were recorded in association with: musty odour, water intrusion, high indoor humidity, limited ventilation through open windows, few extractor fans and failure to remove indoor mould growth. Visible mould growth or condensation evidence was associated with large concentrations of Cladosporium spores, but not with large total spore concentrations. Penicillium exposure was a risk factor for asthma, while Aspergillus exposure was a risk factor for atopy. Fungal allergies were more common among children exposed to Cladosporium or Penicillium in winter or to musty odour. Respiratory symptoms were marginally more common with exposure to Cladosporium or total spores in winter.
Indoor exposure to certain fungal genera in winter was a risk factor for asthma, atopy and respiratory symptoms in children. On the other hand, no significant associations were seen between average viable or total spore concentrations and child health. Actual measurements of fungal spores predict health outcomes better than reported dampness.
生活在潮湿房屋中的儿童更容易出现呼吸道症状，有人认为接触真菌是一个重要的促成因素。然而，对于这种关联的潜在机制还需要更多了解。
确定房屋潮湿程度、空气中真菌孢子水平、住房因素与儿童健康结果之间的关联。
在澳大利亚维多利亚州的拉特罗布谷招募了80户有148名7至14岁儿童的家庭。约36%的参与儿童患有哮喘。在1994年3月至1995年2月期间，以两个月为周期对每户进行了6次采样访问。从卧室、客厅、厨房和户外收集空气中总真菌孢子和活真菌孢子的样本。使用问卷和检查调查对房屋进行了详细的特征描述。用常见气传变应原提取物进行皮肤点刺试验，并为每个儿童完成一份呼吸问卷。
空气中真菌孢子浓度高与以下情况相关：发霉气味、水侵入、室内湿度高、通过开窗通风有限、抽气扇少以及未能清除室内霉菌生长。可见霉菌生长或凝结迹象与枝孢菌孢子的高浓度相关，但与总孢子浓度高无关。接触青霉是哮喘的一个危险因素，而接触曲霉是特应性的一个危险因素。在冬季接触枝孢菌或青霉或有发霉气味的儿童中，真菌过敏更为常见。冬季接触枝孢菌或总孢子时，呼吸道症状略为常见。
冬季室内接触某些真菌属是儿童哮喘、特应性和呼吸道症状的一个危险因素。另一方面，平均活孢子或总孢子浓度与儿童健康之间未发现显著关联。真菌孢子的实际测量比报告的潮湿情况更能预测健康结果。
