On Associations between Housing Characteristics,Dampness and Asthma and Allergies among Children in Northeast Texas

Abstract

A cross-sectional study on the home environment and children’s health in Northeast Texas was carried out in 2008–2009. Two thousand eight hundred and nineteen (2,819) parents of children (1–8 years) reported their housing characteristics, home interior surface materials, dampness and children’s health status. The response rate was 71%. Health outcomes studied were wheeze, dry cough, rhinitis, eczema in the last 12 months and diagnosed asthma and hay fever. Dampness was significant risk factor for wheeze and rhinitis with adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.3–1.7. Mould/damp spot, condensation and suspected moisture problems were more commonly reported in buildings with flat roof and pier/beam foundation in hot and humid Northeast Texas. Compared to single family houses, trailers were associated with more dampness, consequently a significant increased prevalence of asthma (AOR 1.5 with 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.0–2.3), rhinitis (AOR 1.4, 95% CI 1.0–2.0) and hay fever (AOR 1.5, 95% CI 1.1–2.1). Central air-conditioning system, which re-circulates indoor air, was associated with less dampness problems. However, an increment trend of allergic symptoms was found in homes with air-conditioning system, especially for rhinitis (AOR 1.6, 95% CI 1.1–2.2). Carpet as floor covering and laminated panel as wall covering were associated with rhinitis (AOR 1.6, 95% CI 1.0–2.5) and wheezing (AOR 4.7, 95% CI 1.8–12.7), respectively.