ALMA

Research Team

• Juha Pekkanen, D.Med.Sc., Docent, Head of Unit of Environmental Epidemiology, National Public Health Institute, Kuopio
• Sami Remes, D.Med.Sc., MPH, National Public Health Institute, Kuopio, and Department of Pediatrics, Kuopio University Hospital
• Leea Keski-Nisula, D.Med.Sc., National Public Health Institute, Kuopio, and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kuopio University Hospital
• Heikki Koskela, D.Med.Sc., Department of Respiratory Medicine, Kuopio University Hospital
• Kati Iivanainen, MB, PhD student

Partnerships

• Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland

Funding

National Public Health Institute, Finland

Contact person(s)

Juha Pekkanen

Background

Recent studies suggest that microbial exposure associated with farming environment may decrease the risk of allergy in children.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to identify relevant farm-related factors that could explain the decreased risk of allergy among farmers' children.

Description

A total of 710 children aged 6-13 years, half of whom lived on a farm, were studied in a cross-sectional study in spring 2001. Part of the mothers (n=433) of these children were also studied . The characteristics of the farm, exposure to the farm-related environmental factors, and the health data (allergic and other chronic illnessess) of both children and their mothers were obtained by written questionnaires. The prevalence of allergic sensitization was assessed by skin pric tests.

Files

<mfanonymousfilelist></mfanonymousfilelist>