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Mould in Home May Mean Baby Breathing Problems
Mon July 21, 2003 05:31 PM ET
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) -
High fungus levels in the home can cause breathing problems, even
pneumonia, for infants, new research suggests.
Dampness in the
basement or other rooms is known to cause breathing problems for children
and young adults. The new findings suggest that this may be due to the
presence of fungi, which thrive in damp locations. However, the results
also indicate that fungi can be a problem even when the entire house is
dry.
In a study of 499
children with at least one allergic parent, Dr. Diane R. Gold, from
Harvard University in Boston, and colleagues evaluated the effect of
domestic fungal levels on breathing problems in the first year of life.
The researchers'
findings are reported in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical
Care Medicine.
After considering
other factors such as house dampness and visible mould or mildew, the
authors found that exposure to high levels of fungi made breathing
problems much more likely for infants. For example, infants who lived in
homes with high levels of one type of fungi--Zygomycetes--were nearly
twice as likely to develop problems as other infants.
To determine whether a
home is likely to cause breathing problems for an infant, the authors
recommend not only looking for wet spots and mould, but also measuring
fungi levels.
SOURCE: American
Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine July 15, 2003
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