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Two Moldy Day‐care Centers: a Follow‐up Study of Respiratory Symptoms and Infections
Author(s) -
Koskinen Outi M.,
Husman Tuula M.,
Hyvärinen Anne M.,
Reponen Tiina A.,
Nevalainen Aino I.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
indoor air
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.387
H-Index - 99
eISSN - 1600-0668
pISSN - 0905-6947
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0668.1997.00005.x
Subject(s) - medicine , sore throat , day care , pediatrics , throat , nasal congestion , respiratory tract infections , upper respiratory tract infection , common cold , nose , respiratory system , emergency medicine , surgery , nursing , immunology
Abstract The aim was to study the respiratory symptoms among children exposed to indoor air molds in a day‐care environment in Finland. Two day‐care centers with a mold problem and two reference day‐care centers were included in the study and the health data of the children were collected with a follow‐up study of two periods. A total of 229 children 3‐7 years old attended the day‐care centers. During the first follow‐up period, the children in the two day‐care centers with mold problems had a significantly increased risk of sore throat, purulent and non‐purulent nasal discharge, nasal congestion, hoarseness and common cold. During the second follow‐up period, a significantly increased risk of purulent nasal discharge, nasal congestion, hoarseness and cough was observed. Upper respiratory tract symptoms, at least once during the study period, were more prevalent among the children attending mold‐problem day‐care centers. The mold‐exposed children had such symptoms repeatedly or the symptoms were prolonged. In conclusion, in the mold‐problem day‐care centers, overall morbidity for respiratory symptoms and for common cold increased in comparison with the reference day‐care centers.