The Social and Environmental Risk Factors of Allergic Rhinitis in Children

So Hyun Ahn; Hee Young Lee; Young Eun Song; Sin Young Park; Dae Hyun Lim; Jeong Hee Kim; Byong Kwan Son

doi:10.7581/pard.2012.22.1.100

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Ahn, Lee, Song, Park, Lim, Kim, and Son: The Social and Environmental Risk Factors of Allergic Rhinitis in Children

Original Article

Pediatric Allergy and Respiratory Disease

Pediatric Allergy and Respiratory Disease 2012; 22(1): 100-109.

Published online: 31 March 2012

DOI: https://doi.org/10.7581/pard.2012.22.1.100

The Social and Environmental Risk Factors of Allergic Rhinitis in Children

So Hyun Ahn¹, Hee Young Lee², Young Eun Song², Sin Young Park³, Dae Hyun Lim^2,³, Jeong Hee Kim^2,³, Byong Kwan Son^2,³

¹Department of Pediatrics, Green Hospital, Guri, Korea.

²Environmental Health Center for Allergic Rhinitis, Inha University Hospital, Ministry of Environment, Incheon, Korea.

³Department of Pediatrics, Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon, Korea.

Corresponding author (kimjhmd@inha.ac.kr)

Received 31 January 2012 Revised 20 February 2012 Accepted 8 March 2012

Abstract

Purpose

We investigated the risk factors related to the development and aggravation of allergic rhinitis, which is associated with residential environment and lifestyle habits of children residing in Incheon.

Methods

A total of 182 children diagnosed with moderate to severe allergic rhinitis and 67 healthy children were enrolled. A detailed questionnaire of the environmental characteristics and the dietary habits were completed by the parents. Further, skin prick tests with 14 common allergens were performed.

Results

The mean age of the children with allergic rhinitis and healthy control was 8.2±2.8 and 9.4±2.0 years, respectively. The presence of indoor mold was associated with an increased risk of development of allergic rhinitis. (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 4.26; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.96-9.27) Among the food groups, there was no significant difference of the daily intake of milk and yogurt between the patients and the controls. However, daily intake of vegetables, except Kimchi, and daily intake of fruits or fruit juice were associated with a decreased risk of allergic rhinitis. (aOR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.20-0.92 / aOR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.13-0.90, respectively)

Conclusion

The results indicate that an indoor dampness is one of the risk factors of development and aggravation of allergic rhinitis. Control of indoor humidity and daily intake of fruits and vegetables can prevent the development and control symptoms of allergic rhinitis.

Keywords: Allergic rhinitis, Risk factors, Diet, Mold, Vegetable, Fruit, Children

Figures and Tables

Table 1

Clinical Characteristics of Subjects

Values are presented as mean±SD or number (%).

Table 2

Risk Factors of Allergic Rhinitis according to Residential and Birth Environment

Values are presented as number (%).

aOR, adjusted odds ratio; CI, confidence interval.

^*Adjusted by age, gender, and household income level.

Table 3

Risk Factors of Allergic Rhinitis according to Dietary Habits

Values are presented as number (%).

aOR, adjusted odds ratio; CI, confidence interval.

^*Adjusted by age, gender, and household income level.

Table 4

Results of Skin Prick Test of Subjects

Values are presented as number (%).

^*Mold 1: Alternaria, Botrytis, Cladosporium, Curvularia, Fusarium, Heminthosporium. ^†Grass B2: bent, brome, cocksfoot, dogstail, oak, plane, popular, willow.

Table 5

Sensitization to the Indoor Molds

Values are presented as number (%).

^*House dust mite: Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus/Dermatophagoides farina. ^†Mold 1: Alternaria, Botrytis, Cladosporium, Curvularia, Fusarium, Heminthosporium.

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