FUNGUS ALLERGENS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE RESIDENCES OF ATOPIC AND CONTROL CHILDREN

Airborne fungi were collected during the peak fungus season, using the N6 Andersen sampler inside and outside the homes of 46 asthmatic chil dren, 20 atopic children, and 26 nonatopic control children in the Tai pei area. The geometric mean fungus concentrations of the asthmatic, a topic, and control groups were found to be 565, 411, and 608 colony-fo rming units (CFU) per m(3) in the living rooms; 659, 464, and 602 CFU m(3) in the bedrooms; and 547, 449, and 668 CFU m(3) outdoors; respect ively. Aspergillus, Cladosporium, and Penicillium were observed to be the most common microfungi, both indoors and outdoors. High correlatio ns between indoor fungus levels (living rooms or bedrooms) and the cor responding outdoor levels were observed for these predominant genera. With regard to the Aspergillus species composition, A. flavus and A. n iger were observed to be predominant and are, therefore, recommended t o be included on a skin test panel. Moreover, among these three groups , there were statistically significant concentration differences for C ladosporium and Penicillium.