BACKGROUND: Among inner-city children with asthma, cockroach allergen exposure has been associated with allergic sensitization. OBJECTIVE: We hypothesized that cockroach allergen levels in homes would be associated with sensitization to cockroach allergens in children. METHODS: From a low-income preschool program, 341 four-year-old children selected on the basis of the willingness of their caregivers to participate in the study were enrolled. Dust from their beds and kitchens were analyzed for cockroach (Bla g 2), mouse (mouse urinary proteins), and cat allergens (Fel d 1). Serum samples were analyzed for allergen-specific IgE antibodies by immunoassay. RESULTS: Bla g 2 levels >1 U/g in children's bed and kitchen dust samples were independently associated with cockroach-specific IgE (odds ratio [OR], 2.7; 95% CI, 1.1-6.4; and OR, 3.4; 95% CI, 1.2-9.4, respectively), adjusting for sex, ethnicity, asthma, pet ownership, mother's allergic sensitization, environmental tobacco smoke, and having lived in other homes. Bla g 2 was associated (OR, 3.6; 95% CI, 1.0-13.1) with cockroach-specific IgE among children with asthma. Among children without asthma, the ORs were similar (OR, 3.0; 95% CI, 0.9-10.3), but the association was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Concentrations of the major cockroach allergen, Bla g 2, in settled dust were associated with cockroach-specific IgE independent of other factors in a cohort of 4-year-old inner-city children.
BACKGROUND: Among inner-city children with asthma, cockroach allergen exposure has been associated with allergic sensitization. OBJECTIVE: We hypothesized that cockroach allergen levels in homes would be associated with sensitization to cockroach allergens in children. METHODS: From a low-income preschool program, 341 four-year-old children selected on the basis of the willingness of their caregivers to participate in the study were enrolled. Dust from their beds and kitchens were analyzed for cockroach (Bla g 2), mouse (mouse urinary proteins), and cat allergens (Fel d 1). Serum samples were analyzed for allergen-specific IgE antibodies by immunoassay. RESULTS: Bla g 2 levels >1 U/g in children's bed and kitchen dust samples were independently associated with cockroach-specific IgE (odds ratio [OR], 2.7; 95% CI, 1.1-6.4; and OR, 3.4; 95% CI, 1.2-9.4, respectively), adjusting for sex, ethnicity, asthma, pet ownership, mother's allergic sensitization, environmental tobacco smoke, and having lived in other homes. Bla g 2 was associated (OR, 3.6; 95% CI, 1.0-13.1) with cockroach-specific IgE among children with asthma. Among children without asthma, the ORs were similar (OR, 3.0; 95% CI, 0.9-10.3), but the association was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Concentrations of the major cockroach allergen, Bla g 2, in settled dust were associated with cockroach-specific IgE independent of other factors in a cohort of 4-year-old inner-city children.
Authors: Lindsay Rosenfeld; Ginger L Chew; Rima Rudd; Karen Emmons; Luis Acosta; Matt Perzanowski; Dolores Acevedo-García Journal: J Urban Health Date: 2011-02 Impact factor: 3.671
Authors: James Krieger; David E Jacobs; Peter J Ashley; Andrea Baeder; Ginger L Chew; Dorr Dearborn; H Patricia Hynes; J David Miller; Rebecca Morley; Felicia Rabito; Darryl C Zeldin Journal: J Public Health Manag Pract Date: 2010 Sep-Oct
Authors: D J Stoltz; D J Jackson; M D Evans; R E Gangnon; C J Tisler; J E Gern; R F Lemanske Journal: Clin Exp Allergy Date: 2013-02 Impact factor: 5.018
Authors: Daniel Kass; Wendy McKelvey; Elizabeth Carlton; Marta Hernandez; Ginger Chew; Sean Nagle; Robin Garfinkel; Brian Clarke; Julius Tiven; Christian Espino; David Evans Journal: Environ Health Perspect Date: 2009-04-15 Impact factor: 9.031