Moisture damage at home in early childhood linked to asthma in children

Moisture damage in the residential home during early childhood is linked to asthma and persistent wheezing, according to a recent study conducted by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).

The result confirms previous findings on the association between moisture damage and asthma and the study was published in the Pediatric Allergy & Immunology journal, said THL in a press release on Monday.

“We have previously shown that moisture damage and visible mould in a child’s main living area of the house are associated with an increased risk of developing asthma. According to our new study, moisture damages in the main living area where children spend most of their time are particularly associated with persistent asthma, rather than transient asthma that is associated with infections in small children”, said Anne Karvonen, Chief Researcher of THL.

However, researchers emphasise that dozens of potential risk factors for asthma are known, and moisture damage is one, not particularly strong factor among those.

The risk for development of asthma caused by moisture damage can be avoided by taking care of the condition of the buildings and indoor spaces.

Study exploring the impacts of the residential environment on the development of asthma and allergic diseases

The currently published study is part of the LUKAS birth cohort. The cohort is used to investigate the protective or harmful effects of exposure to environmental microbes in the homes in the development of asthma and allergic diseases in children.

The current study included 344 children living in homes in which visual assessment of moisture damage or visible mould had been conducted when the children were under the age of one. The children were followed up with questionnaires and with a study visit until the age of six years. 

“This is the first study investigating the link between moisture damage and different phenotypes of asthma. Asthma has several phenotypes, whose risk factors are partly different. Understanding these risk factors is essential in the prevention and treatment of asthma”, said Research Professor of THL Juha Pekkanen.