Environmental dust granulometry and microbial load in the presence of tobacco smoke.

Background And Objective: Several studies describe damage from passive smoking in humans. However, it is not clearly understood how different chemical and physical components relate to mechanisms of damage. This investigation was focused on the particulate phase of environmental cigarette smoke.

Asthma and rhinitis in schoolchildren: the impact of allergic sensitization to aeroallergens.

This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of asthma and rhinitis in schoolchildren living in the Genoa area by using a validated questionnaire and to investigate the prevalence of sensitizations using skin prick tests. An ATS modified questionnaire was given to 781 schoolchildren (all of them aged between 11 and 14 years) resident in the Genoa area. The main outcome of the present survey demonstrates a high prevalence of sensitized children (40.

Minimal persistent inflammation is also present in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis.

Background: The allergic reaction is characterized by an inflammatory response, which is correlated to the allergen exposure, and is detectable in mite allergic patients, even when symptoms are absent.

Objective: The study was aimed at assessing the presence of inflammation in patients with pollen allergy during a long observation period.

Methods: Six patients, sensitized only to Betula alba, were enrolled.

Differences in prevalence of allergic sensitization in urban and rural school children.

Background: Environmental factors are important causes of sensitization, even though the effect of specific pollutants and the interaction between pollution and aeroallergens are not completely known.

Purpose: To evaluate whether the exposure to pollutants or to allergens is a more important contributing factor in causing sensitization.

Methods: A group of 312 children living in the city and a group of 225 children living in a rural area, ages 11 to 14, were studied.