There is an increased risk of asthma and rhinitis for children up to 16 years of age when they are exposed to mold and dampness during infancy, according to research published in Allergy.
Researchers obtained questionnaire-derived reports of mold or dampness indicators and allergic outcomes of 3,798 children in a Swedish birth cohort. They assessed sensitization from blood samples in 3,293 children.
Results included:
- A correlation for exposure to any mold or dampness indicator with asthma up to age 16 years;
- Exposure to mold odor and visible mold correlated with rhinitis;
- For nonallergic asthma and rhinitis, increased risks were observed;
- There was no correlation between mold and dampness indicators and IgE sensitization;
- There was a correlation for exposure to any mold or dampness indicator with persistent asthma;
- No correlations were seen for early-transient or late-onset asthma.
