Indoor Air Problems and Hoarseness in Children

详细信息    查看全文

• 作者：Emma Kallvik^&lowast ; ; ^{ekallvik@abo.fi" class="auth_mail" title="E-mail the corresponding author} ; Tuula Putus^&dagger ; ; Susanna Simberg^&lowast ;
• 关键词：Hoarseness ; Children ; Indoor air problems ; Moisture damage ; Health symptoms ; School buildings
• 刊名：Journal of Voice
• 出版年：2016
• 出版时间：January 2016
• 年：2016
• 卷：30
• 期：1
• 页码：109-113
• 全文大小：134 K

文摘

A well-functioning voice is becoming increasingly important because voice-demanding professions are increasing. The largest proportion of voice disorders is caused by factors in the environment. Moisture damage is common and can initiate microbial growth and/or diffusion of chemicals from building materials. Indoor air problems due to moisture damage are associated with a number of health symptoms, for example, rhinitis, cough, and asthma symptoms. The purpose of this study was to investigate if children attending a day care center, preschool, or school with indoor air problems due to moisture damage were hoarse more often than the children in a control group.

Methods

Information was collected through electronic and paper questionnaires from the parents of 6- to 9-year-old children (n = 1857) attending 57 different day care centers, preschools, or schools with or without indoor air problems due to moisture damage.

Results

The results showed a significant correlation between the degree of indoor air problem due to moisture damage and the frequency of hoarseness. Significant predictors for the child being hoarse every week or more often were dry cough, phlegm cough, and nasal congestion.

Conclusions

The results indicate that these symptoms and exposure to indoor air problems due to moisture damage should be included in voice anamnesis. Furthermore, efforts should be made to remediate indoor air problems due to moisture damage and to treat health symptoms.