RESIDENTIAL DAMPNESS PROBLEMS AND SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS OF BRONCHIAL OBSTRUCTION IN YOUNG NORWEGIAN CHILDREN

To assess the role of dampness problems and house dust mite exposure i n the development of bronchial obstruction in early life, a cohort of 3,754 children born in Oslo during 1992 and 1993 was followed for 2 yr . Bronchial obstruction was defined as two or more episodes with sympt oms and signs of obstruction or one lasting 1 mo or more. A matched ca se-control study was carried out in 251 cases of bronchial obstruction (response rate: 98%) and their 251 paired controls. Information on ho me dampness problem(s), house dust mite exposure, and potential confou nders was collected during home visits and by questionnaires. Dampness problems were confirmed in the homes of 27% of the cases and 14% of t he controls, while a concentration of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus a llergens > 2 mu g/g dust was found in the beds of 11 (4.5%) cases and three (1.2%) controls. In conditional logistic regression analysis con trolling fbr potential confounders, confirmed dampness problems increa sed the risk of bronchial obstruction (adjusted odds ratio: 3.8; 95% c onfidence interval: 2.0-7.2). Exposure to D. pteronyssinus allergens > 2 mu g/g dust increased the risk of bronchial obstruction (adjusted o dds ratio: 2.8; 95% confidence interval: 0.7-11.7). Residential dampne ss problems in Oslo dwellings seem to increase symptoms and signs of b ronchial obstruction in young children, apparently without increasing their exposure to house dust mites.