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-control study was performed using participants from a survey that included 144 school children with atopic eczema and 144 age- and gender-matched controls. The study was confined to 4,164 primary school children aged 6-12 yr attending 8 primary schools in Kaohsiung rural municipalities who participated in the study. Cases of atopic eczema were ascertained by asking whether a physician had ever diagnosed this condition in the child. Information regarding the home environment was obtained using a structured written questionnaire, completed by the parents of the children. Of the many indoor environmental factors included in this study, such as dampness and smoking, none was found to be associated with atopic eczema.