OBJECTIVES: Children and adolescents are especially vulnerable to environmental exposures and their respiratory effects. Following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, residents experienced multiple adverse environmental exposures. We characterized the association between upper respiratory symptoms (URS) and lower respiratory symptoms (LRS) and environmental exposures among children and adolescents affected by Hurricane Katrina. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study following the return of the population to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina (October 2005 and February 2006) among a convenience sample of children and adolescents attending New Orleans health facilities. We used uni-, bi-, and multivariable analyses to describe participants, exposures, and associations with URS/LRS. RESULTS: Of 1,243 participants, 47% were Caucasian, 50% were male, and 72% were younger than 11 years of age. Multiple environmental exposures were identified during and after the storm and at current residences: roof/glass/storm damage (50%), outside mold (22%), dust (18%), and flood damage (15%). Self-reported URS and LRS (76% and 36%, respectively) were higher after the hurricane than before the hurricane (22% and 9%, respectively, p<0.0001). Roof/glass/storm damage at home was associated with URS (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.59, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.15, 2.21) and LRS (AOR=1.35, 95% CI 1.01, 1.80), while mold growth at home was associated with LRS (AOR=1.47, 95% CI 1.02, 2.12). CONCLUSIONS: Children and adolescents affected by Hurricane Katrina experienced environmental exposures associated with increased prevalence of reported URS and LRS. Additional research is needed to investigate the long-term health impacts of Hurricane Katrina.
OBJECTIVES:Children and adolescents are especially vulnerable to environmental exposures and their respiratory effects. Following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, residents experienced multiple adverse environmental exposures. We characterized the association between upper respiratory symptoms (URS) and lower respiratory symptoms (LRS) and environmental exposures among children and adolescents affected by Hurricane Katrina. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study following the return of the population to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina (October 2005 and February 2006) among a convenience sample of children and adolescents attending New Orleans health facilities. We used uni-, bi-, and multivariable analyses to describe participants, exposures, and associations with URS/LRS. RESULTS: Of 1,243 participants, 47% were Caucasian, 50% were male, and 72% were younger than 11 years of age. Multiple environmental exposures were identified during and after the storm and at current residences: roof/glass/storm damage (50%), outside mold (22%), dust (18%), and flood damage (15%). Self-reported URS and LRS (76% and 36%, respectively) were higher after the hurricane than before the hurricane (22% and 9%, respectively, p<0.0001). Roof/glass/storm damage at home was associated with URS (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.59, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.15, 2.21) and LRS (AOR=1.35, 95% CI 1.01, 1.80), while mold growth at home was associated with LRS (AOR=1.47, 95% CI 1.02, 2.12). CONCLUSIONS:Children and adolescents affected by Hurricane Katrina experienced environmental exposures associated with increased prevalence of reported URS and LRS. Additional research is needed to investigate the long-term health impacts of Hurricane Katrina.
Authors: Robert E Dales; Sabit Cakmak; Stan Judek; Tom Dann; Frances Coates; Jeffrey R Brook; Richard T Burnett Journal: J Allergy Clin Immunol Date: 2004-02 Impact factor: 10.793
Authors: Deborah N Barbeau; L Faye Grimsley; LuAnn E White; Jane M El-Dahr; Maureen Lichtveld Journal: Annu Rev Public Health Date: 2010 Impact factor: 21.981
Authors: R J Delfino; R S Zeiger; J M Seltzer; D H Street; R M Matteucci; P R Anderson; P Koutrakis Journal: Environ Health Perspect Date: 1997-06 Impact factor: 9.031
Authors: J H Ware; J D Spengler; L M Neas; J M Samet; G R Wagner; D Coultas; H Ozkaynak; M Schwab Journal: Am J Epidemiol Date: 1993-06-15 Impact factor: 4.897
Authors: Kathleen Belanger; William Beckett; Elizabeth Triche; Michael B Bracken; Theodore Holford; Ping Ren; Jean-ellen McSharry; Diane R Gold; Thomas A E Platts-Mills; Brian P Leaderer Journal: Am J Epidemiol Date: 2003-08-01 Impact factor: 4.897
Authors: Michael T Schmeltz; Sonia K González; Liza Fuentes; Amy Kwan; Anna Ortega-Williams; Lisa Pilar Cowan Journal: J Urban Health Date: 2013-10 Impact factor: 3.671
Authors: Gennaro D'Amato; Stephen T Holgate; Ruby Pawankar; Dennis K Ledford; Lorenzo Cecchi; Mona Al-Ahmad; Fatma Al-Enezi; Saleh Al-Muhsen; Ignacio Ansotegui; Carlos E Baena-Cagnani; David J Baker; Hasan Bayram; Karl Christian Bergmann; Louis-Philippe Boulet; Jeroen T M Buters; Maria D'Amato; Sofia Dorsano; Jeroen Douwes; Sarah Elise Finlay; Donata Garrasi; Maximiliano Gómez; Tari Haahtela; Rabih Halwani; Youssouf Hassani; Basam Mahboub; Guy Marks; Paola Michelozzi; Marcello Montagni; Carlos Nunes; Jay Jae-Won Oh; Todor A Popov; Jay Portnoy; Erminia Ridolo; Nelson Rosário; Menachem Rottem; Mario Sánchez-Borges; Elopy Sibanda; Juan José Sienra-Monge; Carolina Vitale; Isabella Annesi-Maesano Journal: World Allergy Organ J Date: 2015-07-14 Impact factor: 4.084
Authors: Kristen N Cowan; Audrey F Pennington; Kanta Sircar; W Dana Flanders Journal: Disaster Med Public Health Prep Date: 2021-06-21 Impact factor: 1.385