Effects of indoor environmental factors on risk for atopic eczema in a subtropical area

The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between indoor environmental factors and atopic eczema in a subtropical area. A case-contr ol study was performed using participants from a survey that included 144 s chool children with atopic eczema and 144 age- and gender-matched controls. The study was confined to 4164 primary school children aged 6-12 yr attend ing 8 primary schools in Kaohsiung rural municipalities who participated in the study. Cases or atopic eczema were ascertained by asking whether a phy sician had ever diagnosed this condition in the child. information regardin g the home environment was obtained using a structured written questionnair e, completed by the parents of the children. Or the many indoor environment al factors included in this study, such as dampness and smoking, none was r ound to be associated with atopic eczema.