BACKGROUND: Exposure to mold has been associated with exacerbation of asthma symptoms in children. OBJECTIVE: To report how the presence of visible mold and exposure to (1-3)-beta-D-glucan in infancy affects the risk of asthma at the age of 3 years as defined by an Asthma Predictive Index (API). METHODS: Visible mold was evaluated by means of home inspection. (1-3)-beta-D-glucan levels were measured in settled dust. Children were considered to be at high risk for asthma at later ages if they reported recurrent wheezing at the age of 3 years and met at least 1 of 3 major or 2 of 3 minor API criteria. RESULTS: Children aged 3 years with high visible mold in the home during infancy were 7 times more likely to have a positive API than were those with no visible mold (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 7.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.2-12.6). In contrast, at low (1-3)-beta-D-glucan levels (< 22 microg/g), children were at increased risk of a positive API (aOR, 3.4; 95% CI, 0.5-23.5), whereas those with high (1-3)-beta-D-glucan levels (> 133 microg/g) were at decreased risk (aOR, 0.6; 95% CI, 0.2-1.6). Of the other covariates, mother's smoking was the strongest significant risk factor for the future development of asthma based on a positive API (aOR, 4.4; 95% CI, 1.7-11.6). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of high visible mold and mother's smoking during infancy were the strongest risk factors for a positive API at the age of 3 years, suggesting an increased risk of asthma. High (1-3)-beta-D-glucan exposure seems to have an opposite effect on API than does visible mold.
BACKGROUND: Exposure to mold has been associated with exacerbation of asthma symptoms in children. OBJECTIVE: To report how the presence of visible mold and exposure to (1-3)-beta-D-glucan in infancy affects the risk of asthma at the age of 3 years as defined by an Asthma Predictive Index (API). METHODS: Visible mold was evaluated by means of home inspection. (1-3)-beta-D-glucan levels were measured in settled dust. Children were considered to be at high risk for asthma at later ages if they reported recurrent wheezing at the age of 3 years and met at least 1 of 3 major or 2 of 3 minor API criteria. RESULTS:Children aged 3 years with high visible mold in the home during infancy were 7 times more likely to have a positive API than were those with no visible mold (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 7.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.2-12.6). In contrast, at low (1-3)-beta-D-glucan levels (< 22 microg/g), children were at increased risk of a positive API (aOR, 3.4; 95% CI, 0.5-23.5), whereas those with high (1-3)-beta-D-glucan levels (> 133 microg/g) were at decreased risk (aOR, 0.6; 95% CI, 0.2-1.6). Of the other covariates, mother's smoking was the strongest significant risk factor for the future development of asthma based on a positive API (aOR, 4.4; 95% CI, 1.7-11.6). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of high visible mold and mother's smoking during infancy were the strongest risk factors for a positive API at the age of 3 years, suggesting an increased risk of asthma. High (1-3)-beta-D-glucan exposure seems to have an opposite effect on API than does visible mold.
Authors: H Choi; S Byrne; L S Larsen; T Sigsgaard; P S Thorne; L Larsson; A Sebastian; C-G Bornehag Journal: Indoor Air Date: 2013-10-24 Impact factor: 5.770
Authors: Sachin N Baxi; Michael L Muilenberg; Christine A Rogers; William J Sheehan; Jonathan Gaffin; Perdita Permaul; Lianne S Kopel; Peggy S Lai; Jeffrey P Lane; Ann Bailey; Carter R Petty; Chunxia Fu; Diane R Gold; Wanda Phipatanakul Journal: Pediatr Allergy Immunol Date: 2013-11 Impact factor: 6.377
Authors: Jocelyn M Biagini Myers; Eric Schauberger; Hua He; Lisa J Martin; John Kroner; Gregory M Hill; Patrick H Ryan; Grace K LeMasters; David I Bernstein; James E Lockey; S Hasan Arshad; Ramesh Kurukulaaratchy; Gurjit K Khurana Hershey Journal: J Allergy Clin Immunol Date: 2018-12-13 Impact factor: 10.793
Authors: Tiina Reponen; Umesh Singh; Chris Schaffer; Stephen Vesper; Elisabet Johansson; Atin Adhikari; Sergey A Grinshpun; Reshmi Indugula; Patrick Ryan; Linda Levin; Grace Lemasters Journal: Sci Total Environ Date: 2010-10-15 Impact factor: 7.963
Authors: Rachael A Mintz-Cole; Aaron M Gibson; Stacey A Bass; Alison L Budelsky; Tiina Reponen; Gurjit K Khurana Hershey Journal: J Immunol Date: 2012-09-07 Impact factor: 5.422