The Effects Of Early-Life Environmental Exposure On Preschool Children'S Asthma/Allergic Symptoms

Bronchial asthma is a common chronic respiratory disease.In recent years,the incidence of childhood asthma has increased significantly.During the same period,the incidence of other allergic diseases such as eczema and rhinitis in children also increased rapidly.Many studies have shown that children's asthma may be affected by air pollution or indoor home environment.However,the persistent effects of environmental exposure on children's asthma and other allergic diseases,especially early life exposure,are rare in China.Immune system development in early life,namely pregnancy and neonatal period,is immature,which is very vulnerable to environmental impact and endangers future health.The aim of the study is to analyze the effects of early home environment and outdoor environmental factors on the occurrence,development and regression of children's asthma,allergic rhinitis and eczema symptoms in Taiyuan city,in order to reveal the key factors that endanger children's asthma and allergies.The children's health information and the database of indoor and outdoor environmental exposure factors in this study were obtained from the data of pollutant concentration retrieved from questionnaire statistics and land use regression model.Firstly,according to the principle of cluster sampling,we selected 10 kindergartens in Taiyuan City and distributed questionnaires to all parents of children.We recorded the basic personal information of children,the prevalence of asthma,eczema,rhinitis,allergy history of family members,housing profile and indoor environment such as air quality,family decoration and other information within two years after birth and the last year.Secondly,a land use regression model was established using the historical data of air pollutants in the corresponding time of questionnaire information at Taiyuan monitoring station,and the surrounding meteorological,land and traffic information,The model was used to estimate the air pollutant concentration in kindergartens.Combining with the birth date of children in the questionnaire,the exposure concentration of pollutants was corresponded to the individual,and the database was established with the questionnaire data.Logistic regression model was used to explore the effects of indoor and outdoor environmental factors on the onset or new onset/remission of asthma,allergy and eczema in children in early life."Onset" symptom is defined as having no symptoms within two years of birth but presently occurring.Similarly,"remission" symptom is defined as having this symptom within two years of birth,but there is no such symptom at present.The results of logistic regression showed that there were significant positive correlations between indoor mouldand new onset of asthma,allergic rhinitis and eczema in children.In terms of air pollution exposure.There was a significant positive correlation between the average concentration of NO₂ exposure in 2 years after birth(OR=1.20,95% CI?1.06,1.37?and OR=2.51,95% CI?1.19,5.27?and the new onset of wheezing in children.The results of this study show that early life indoor and outdoor environmental factors will have a lasting impact on the incidence of asthma in children.Families with newborns should try to avoid indoor mould and open windows in time for ventilation.At the same time,when air pollution is serious,parents should take protective measures for their children and themselves,such as wearing masks,avoiding a large number of outdoor sports,in order to reduce the impact of pollutants such as NO₂.