| Popis: |
Objectives: Several studies have shown an increased risk of infections and respiratory symptoms among people exposed to molds. Here, we report the morbidity of children and staff exposed to several toxic molds at a kindergarten. Methods: Prevalence of symptoms and the incidence of infections were followed up and compared between children and staff exposed in a day-care center affected by mold and those in a reference day-care center. At both day-care centers, parents (mostly mothers) filled out a questionnaire. Staff members with more severe symptoms were examined at the Clinic for Indoor Air Health Problems of the Skin and Allergy Hospital, Helsinki University Hospital. Results: Children and staff exposed to mold had more frequent symptoms and illnesses such as hoarseness, bronchitis than the nonexposed reference group. Symptoms in the exposed group were reduced following remedial building work and the avoidance of exposure. In addition, the acute care visits of the children to the local health care center were less frequent after remediation. One of the employees of a water-damaged kindergarten was diagnosed with allergic alveolitis and asthma, one had epipharyngitis, and two had mixed cell inflammation of the eye. Conclusions: Our study supports the results in which moisture and mold problems have been noted to increase disease rates of children and staff in day-care facilities. The study also suggest that detrimental health effects can be diminished by decreasing or stopping the exposure. |
