Prevalence of hay fever and allergic sensitization in farmer's children and their peers living in the same rural community

Clinical and Experimental Allergy - Tập 29 Số 1 - Trang 28-34 - 1999
Braun‐Fahrländer1, GASSNER2, GRIZE3, NEU4, SENNHAUSER5, VARONIER6, VUILLE7, Wüthrich8
1Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Basel, Switzerland
2School Health Service, Grabs,
3Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Basel
4Institute of Geography, University of Bern.
5Paediatric Clinic of the University Hospital of Zürich,
6Allergy Clinic, Paediatric University Hospital, Geneva,
7Department of Public Health, City of Bern,
8Department of Dermatology, University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland

Tóm tắt

IntroductionLower prevalence rates of allergic diseases in rural as compared with urban populations have been interpreted as indicating an effect of air pollution. However, little is known about other factors of the rural environment which may determine the development of atopic sensitization and related diseases.ObjectiveThe authors tested the hypothesis that children growing up on a farm were less likely to be sensitized to common aerollergens and to suffer from allergic diseases than children living in the same villages but in nonfarming families.Materials and methodsThree age groups of schoolchildren (6–7 years, 9–11 years, 13–15 years) living in three rural communities were included in the analyses. An exhaustive questionnaire was filled in by 1620 (86.0%) parents. A blood sample was provided by 404 (69.3%) of the 13–15 year olds to determine specific IgE antibodies against six common aeroallergens.ResultsFarming as parental occupation was reported for 307 children (19.0%). After adjustment for potential covariates such as family history of asthma and allergies, parental education, number of siblings, maternal smoking, pet ownership, indoor humidity and heating fuels, farming as parental occupation was significantly associated with lower rates of sneezing attacks during pollen season (adjusted OR 0.34, 95% CI 0.12–0.89) and atopic sensitization (adjusted OR 0.31, 95% CI 0.13–0.73) whereas the association with wheeze (adjusted OR 0.77 95% CI 0.38–1.58) and itchy skin rash (adjusted OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.49–1.50) was not statistically significant. The risk of atopic sensitization was lower in children from full‐time farmers (adjusted OR 0.24, 95% CI 0.09–0.66) than from part‐time farmers (adjusted OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.15–1.96).ConclusionFactors directly or indirectly related to farming as parental occupation decrease the risk of children becoming atopic and developing symptoms of allergic rhintis.

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Clinical and Experimental Allergy

Tập 29 Số 1

28-34

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