TY - JOUR T1 - Analysis of the environmental risk factors in patients with bronchial asthma, allergic to molds in second year observation JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J VL - 38 IS - Suppl 55 SP - p975 AU - Grzegorz Przybylski AU - Aleksandra Gadzinska AU - Ryszard Golda AU - Anita Dabrowska Y1 - 2011/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p975.abstract N2 - Mold is a common yet significant allergen. Approximately 5% of people with allergies are subjected to allergic reactions of the respiratory tract which may be caused by mold. It seems that although mold frequently occurs in the outdoor environment, it often happens that indoor exposure must be taken into account in diagnostic procedure. To decrease the risk of mold allergy development or aggravation, indoor mold growth in patient's closest environment should be prevented. In case of mold colonization at home, school or office, humidity source, which supports its growth, should be found so as to identify it and remove as quickly as possible. From January 2009 to December 2010, 421 subjects were recruited from among outpatients visiting the Allergy Outpatients, Poland. Among them, in 166 patients positive mold allergy tests were obtained. These were patients with symptoms of bronchial asthma. All examined patients were subjected to interview concerning environmental exposure to mold allergens. For this purpose a questionnaire was used concerning demographic factors, living conditions, determination of the age of the building, presence of moisture in the place of living, and active or passive tobacco smoking environment. It seems that exposure to environmental factors such as damp flat, old housing plus tobacco smoking, especially in flats of large concentration, may all be favourable to the occurrence of environmental mold allergy and be the cause of the rise of allergy symptoms as well as invoking exacerbations. ER -