Few Associations Found between Mold and Other Allergen Concentrations in the Home versus Skin Sensitivity from Children with Asthma after Hurricane Katrina in the Head-Off Environmental Asthma in Louisiana Study
Table 1
Baseline characteristics of the study population ().
Demographics
Male
98/182 (54%)
Race/ethnicity
African-American
122/182 (67%)
Caucasian
48/182 (26%)
Hispanic
12/182 (7%)
Household income < $15,000
43/170 (25%)
At least one smoker in the household
58/182 (32%)
Caretaker married
97/182 (54%)
Caretaker completed high school
159/182 (88%)
Housing
Baseline home is same as home pre-Katrina
92/182 (51%)
Moved at least once between Katrina and baseline
171/182 (94%)
Moved at least once during the study
37/182 (20%)
Baseline home flooded
68/182 (37%)
Completed home renovations at baseline
85/182 (47%)
Renovations ongoing at baseline
38/182 (21%)
Baseline asthma symptoms in the previous 2 weeks
Maximum symptom days
6.6 ± 4.9
Daytime symptoms
5.3 ± 4.5
Night symptoms
3.3 ± 4.2
Slow play
3.2 ± 3.9
Caretaker changed plans
0.9 ± 1.7
Allergen sensitivities
Skin tests (≥3 mm wheal)
Der f/der p mix
121/180 (67%)
Cat
64/180 (36%)
Cockroach mix
93/180 (52%)
Dog
51/180 (28%)
Rat
33/180 (18%)
Mouse
54/180 (30%)
Cladosporium
52/180 (29%)
Aspergillus fumigatus
43/180 (24%)
Penicillium chrysogenum (notatum)
86/180 (48%)
Alternaria
96/180 (53%)
Number of mold sensitivities (14 total molds tested)
5.3 ± 5.1
Household allergens
Alternaria
Detectable
178/181 (98%)
>10 μg/g
105/181 (58%)
Cockroach (Bla g 1)
Detectable
37/181 (20%)
>2 U/g
8/181 (4%)
Dust mite (Der p 1)
Detectable
63/181 (35%)
>2 g/g
16/181 (9%)
Mouse (Mus m 1)
Detectable
108/181 (60%)
>1.6 g/g
5/181 (3%)
Microbial component
β-glucan (g/g)
0.50 ± 0.06
Endotoxin (EU/mg)
11.4 ± 1.5
Self-report of pet ownership
Dog
46/182 (25%)
Cat
16/182 (9%)
Mold air sampling (spores/m3)
Indoor total
501 ± 48
Outdoor total
3960 ± 467
Values are the count (percent) or mean ± standard deviation. Geometric means are reported for mold air samples.
