PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - H.O. Koskela AU - K.K. Iivanainen AU - S.T. Remes AU - J. Pekkanen TI - Pet- and pollen-induced upper airway symptoms in farmers and in nonfarmers AID - 10.1183/09031936.03.00107903 DP - 2003 Jul 01 TA - European Respiratory Journal PG - 135--140 VI - 22 IP - 1 4099 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/22/1/135.short 4100 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/22/1/135.full SO - Eur Respir J2003 Jul 01; 22 AB - 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.