School Endotoxin Exposure and Asthma Morbidity in Inner-city Children.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Endotoxin exposure is associated with airway inflammation. Children spend 6 to 8 h/d in school, yet the effect of school-specific endotoxin exposure on asthma morbidity is not well understood.

Methods

In this longitudinal cohort study, 248 students with asthma, from 38 inner-city schools, underwent baseline phenotyping and follow-up. Clinical outcomes were evaluated throughout the academic school year and linked to classroom-specific dust and air endotoxin levels as well as home dust endotoxin levels. The primary outcome was maximum asthma symptom-days per 2-week period.

Results

Classrooms had higher settled dust endotoxin levels compared with homes (14.3 endotoxin unit/mg vs 11.3 endotoxin unit/mg; P = .02). Airborne endotoxin levels exceeding recommended

SUBMITTER: Lai PS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4631040 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature