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 2

Relationship of environmental allergen concentrations to allergen sensitization.

Allergen	Concentration^a	N	Sensitivity^b	P value
Cockroach	Above median	37	47%	0.71
	Below median	144	52%
dust mite	Above median	63	60%	0.17
	Below median	118	71%
mouse	Above median	81	36%	0.15
	Below median	100	25%
Alternaria	Above median	90	58%	0.32
	Below median	91	49%
Cat	Yes	16	63%	0.04
	No	166	33%
dog	Yes	46	33%	0.58
	No	136	27%
indoor mold	Above median	90	49%	0.55
	Below median	92	54%
outdoor mold	Above median	91	54%	0.55
	Below median	91	49%
endotoxin	Above median	69	51%	0.81
	Below median	71	55%
β-Glucan	Above median	54	48%	0.29
	Below median	55	60%

^aMedian concentrations: cockroach—0.2 U/g (lower limit of detection), dust mite—0.1 𝜇g/g (LLOD), mouse—0.03 𝜇g/g (LLOD), Alternaria—13.7 𝜇g/g (LLOD), indoor mold—514 spores/m³, outdoor mold—3840 spores/m³, endotoxin—12 EU/mg, β-Glucan—0.4 𝜇g/g. Cat and dog exposure were determined via a yes/no questionnaire item.
^bFor indoor allergens (cockroach, dust mite, mouse, Alternaria, cat, and dog), sensitivity is indicated by a positive skin test to the given allergen (wheal at least 3 mm greater than the negative control). For mold, endotoxin, and β-Glucan, sensitivity is indicated by 4 or more positive skin tests out of 14 mold skin tests measured.