WHEEZE, COUGH, ATOPY, AND INDOOR ENVIRONMENT IN THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

A questionnaire which included items on wheeze, cough, eczema, hay fev er, and indoor environment, including parental smoking habits, pet own ership, heating and cooking methods, home insulation, damp, mould, and years lived in their houses, was given to 1801 children, aged 12 and 14 from the Highland Region in Scotland. Of the 1537 (85%) who replied , 267 (17%) reported current wheeze, 135 (9%) cough for three months i n the year, 272 (18%) eczema, and 317 (21%) hay fever. There was no co nsistent relationship between respiratory symptoms and indoor environm ent although cough was associated with damp, double glazing, and mater nal smoking. The prevalence of wheeze, cough, and atopy was higher in children who had lived in more than one house during their lifetime. T hese results suggest that increasing mobility of families in recent ye ars may be more important in the aetiology of asthma than exposure to any one individual allergen or pollutant.