HOUSING AND ALLERGIC SENSITIZATION IN CHILDREN

Genetic predisposition and indoor exposure to allergens - especially d uring the very early childhood years are major factors for the develop ment of allergic diseases later in life. The present study analyzed th e association between allergic sensitization in children aged 5 to 14 pears and residing since birth in homes of different building types. A cross-sectional study of 811 children aged 5 to 14 years who resided in the same home since birth investigated indoor factors using a quest ionnaire and allergic sensitization assessed by skin prick test. The p revalence of allergic sensitization was compared between children who lived since birth in five different building types. After adjustment f or age, gender, parental education and study area the odds of allergic sensitization were higher among children who lived in prefabricated c oncrete slab buildings built after 1970(OR 1.56, 95 % CI: 1.02-2.38) a nd among children who lived in new brick buildings (OR 1.75, 95 % CI: 0.88-3.47) than among children who lived in old brick buildings. Moreo ver, the odds of polien sensitization was higher among children who li ved in the new building types (prefabricated slab buildings: OR 1.68, 95 % CI: 1.04-2.72; new brick buildings: OR 1.48, 95 % CI: 0.64-3.42) while living in timber-framed houses was associated with a higher odds of sensitization against mites (OR 1.63, 95 % CI: 0.77-3.44). The ste p by step inclusion of single indoor factors like type of heating, num bers of building storeys, number of persons per room, environmental to bacco smoke, use of gas for cooking purposes, dampness of the home or visible moulds in the logistic regression model only marginally change d the odds ratios. Modern living conditions are associated with a high er odds of allergic sensitization.