INDOOR AIR-QUALITY AND ACUTE LOWER RESPIRATORY-INFECTION IN INDIAN URBAN SLUMS

The present prospective study was conducted at two urban slums of Delh i, Kusumpur Pahari and Kathputly Colony, in the peak winter season fro m November 1994 through February 1995. We studied 642 infants to deter mine the incidence of acute lower respiratory infection (ALRI) and its relationship to indoor air pollution due to fuel used for cooking (wo od or kerosene). In Kusumpur Pahari, there were 317 children (142 wood and 175 kerosene), including 64 controls and 78 cases of AW in the wo od fuel group and 81 controls and 94 ALRI cases in the kerosene group (p>0.05). Our of 316 children in Kathputly Colony (174 wood and 142 ke rosene), there were 33 and 45 AW cases in the wood and kerosene groups , respectively (p<0.05) Controls were children without AW and were use d as controls in different groups. The demographic data and risk facto rs, namely, nutritional and immunization status, were comparable in AL RI cases and controls in both study areas. Pneumonia was the most comm on ailment in all the groups. Bronchiolitis was reported in 22.5% of t he wood group and 27.1% of the kerosene group Ln Kathpudy Colony versu s 13.7% in the wood group and 12.1% in the kerosene group in Kusumpur Colony. Only one case of croup was reported from Kusumpur Pahari among wood users. The duration of illness was longer in the Kusumpur Pahari due to poor compliance, feeding, and child rearing habits. In conclus ion, a higher incidence of ALRI was reported in kerosene users in Kath putly Colony, a high pollution area; however, the reasons for the diff erences observed need further elucidation.