Colds flourish in damp homesMay 16, 2001People living in damp homes are likely to have four or more colds a year, suggests a study in Thorax. Over 10 500 first year students in Finland responded to a questionnaire about living conditions and levels of asthma, allergy, and respiratory infections. Dampness was assessed by visible evidence of mould and water stains and/or water damage during the preceding 12 months. Possible risk factors such as pets, wall to wall carpeting, smoking and an inherited tendency to asthma and allergy were also accounted for. Overall, 15 per cent of respondents reported evidence of damp. Among those who did so, the risk of asthma was twice as high, and these students were also likely to have had at least 10 days of antibiotic treatment in the preceding 12 months. Allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis were also significantly more common. Students with an inherited disposition to asthma and allergy were at greatest risk. Students living in damp conditions, particularly where there were signs of visible mould, were almost 50 per cent as likely to have had four or more colds during the year. This held true even after adjusting for active and passive smoking. Other respiratory infections, such as pneumonia and bronchitis, on the other hand, tended to be associated with smoking as well. Moulds provoke inflammatory responses, when inhaled, and they also produce volatile compounds, which could explain the increased susceptibility to colds, conclude the authors. British Medical Journal (BMJ) |
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