HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (5) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Koskela, H.O. Articles by Pekkanen, J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Koskela, H.O. Articles by Pekkanen, J.

Pet- and pollen-induced upper airway symptoms in farmers and in nonfarmers

¹ Dept of Respiratory Medicine, Kuopio University Hospital, ² Unit of Environmental Epidemiology, National Public Health Institute, ³ Dept of Paediatrics, Kuopio University Hospital and Unit of Environmental Epidemiology, National Public Health Institute, Kuopio, Finland

CORRESPONDENCE: H.O. Koskela, Dept of Respiratory Medicine, Kuopio University Hospital, PL 1777, 70210 Kuopio, Finland. Fax: 358 17172683. E-mail: heikki.koskela@kuh.fi

Keywords: epidemiology, farmers, rhinitis, skin-prick tests

Received: November 26, 2002
Accepted February 10, 2003

The effect of farming on the risk of upper airway symptoms is not clear. In this cross-sectional, population-based study, 198 female farmers, 50 nonfarmers living on a farm, and 218 nonfarmers not living on a farm, filled in a symptom questionnaire and underwent skin-prick testing with common and agricultural allergens. In the logistic regression analysis, the latter group served as a control. Several adjustments were made, including childhood farming environment.

Current farming was found to decrease the risks of pet- and pollen-induced upper airway symptoms, dose-dependently with the intensity and duration of animal husbandry. Including skin-test positivity to pets in the regression models did not affect the negative association between farming and pet-induced symptoms. In contrast, animal husbandry increased the risk of farm work-induced upper airway symptoms.

Animal husbandry often induces work-related upper airway symptoms. However, the present study among female adults suggests that it may also decrease the risk of pet- and pollen-induced upper airway symptoms.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				T. Skjold, R. Dahl, B. Juhl, and T. Sigsgaard The incidence of respiratory symptoms and sensitisation in baker apprentices Eur. Respir. J., August 1, 2008; 32(2): 452 - 459. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H O Koskela, K K Happonen, S T Remes, and J Pekkanen Effect of farming environment on sensitisation to allergens continues after childhood Occup. Environ. Med., September 1, 2005; 62(9): 607 - 611. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]