The Indoor Environment and Childhood Asthma

Abstract

Purpose of review: Sensitization and exposure to triggers in the indoor environment, including aeroallergens, indoor air pollution, and environmental tobacco smoke, have a significant role in asthma development and morbidity. This review discusses indoor environmental exposures and their effect on children with asthma as well as environmental interventions and their role in improving asthma morbidity.

Recent findings: Recent research has emphasized the role of aeroallergen sensitization and exposure in asthma morbidity and the importance of the school indoor environment. There is an established association between indoor exposures and asthma development and morbidity. Recent evidence has highlighted the importance of the indoor environment in childhood asthma, particularly the role of the school indoor environment. While home environmental interventions have had mixed results, interventions in the school environment have the potential to significantly impact the health of children, and ongoing research is needed to determine their effectiveness.

Keywords: Childhood asthma; Environmental interventions; Home environment; Indoor allergens; School environment.