Effect of Different Doses of Inhaled Corticosteroids on the Isolation of Nasopharyngeal Flora in Children with Asthma

Objectives: To find the effects of inhaled corticosteroids and the impact of different doses ofinhaled corticosteroids on the isolation of nasopharyngeal flora in asthmatic children aged 1-15 years. Methods: The study included 75 children with asthma and 25 age-matchedcontrols. Nasopharyngeal swabs were obtained. Bacteria were identified by standardtechniques. Results: Pathogenic organisms were isolated from 36% of asthmatic childrenand 20% of controls, the difference was not significant statistically (OR=2.25, 95% CI=0.75-6.67, P=0.13). There was no statistically significant association of using a high dose ofinhaled corticosteroids with the isolation of pathogenic organisms. Usage of biomass fuel forcooking in the household of asthmatic children increases the risk of colonization (OR=3.4,95% CI= 1.26-9.10, P=0.03). Conclusion: Inhaled corticosteroids are safe in the treatmentof asthma and there is no association between different doses of Inhaled corticosteroids andisolation of the pathogenic organism.

Domestic cooking fuel exposure and tuberculosis in Indian women.

Background. A case-controlled study was undertaken to find out the possible relationship of biomass fuel and pulmonary tuberculosis. Methods. Ninety-five non-smoking females with sputum positive tuberculosis (TB) and 109 healthy controls were interviewed using a questionnaire to obtain detailed information on type of fuel used in homes, duration of cooking, passive smoking, location of kitchen, socio-economic status, adequacy of ventilation, number of people per room and respiratory symptoms occurring during cooking. Odds ratio (OR) was ascertained by logistic regression analysis. Results. The cases were from a low socio-economic status and the kitchens used by them were inadequately ventilated. Controls had less smoke accumulation in the rooms while cooking and cases had associated respiratory symptoms more often. Logistic regression analysis revealed that TB was significantly influenced by the location of the kitchen (OR 0.201, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.08-0.51) and the presence of respiratory symptoms while cooking (OR 10.70, 95% CI 2.90- 39.56). The odds of having TB did not differ significantly among various fuel types either on univariate (OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.45- 2.22) or multivariate analysis (OR 0.60, 95% CI 0.22-1.63). Conclusions. No association was found between type of fuel used and TB. However, low socio-economic status, smoky rooms, location of the kitchen, ventilation and associated respiratory symptoms during cooking are likely to be important contributors.

Research Progress in Indoor Air Pollution and Health Effects Caused by Combustion of Biomass Fuels / 环境与健康杂志

About half of the world population and more than 90% of rural households in the developing countries still use unprocessed biomass fuels (wood, dung and crop residues) as the fuels. These substances, burning in the open fire or in the simple stoves, can cause indoor air pollution and the pollutants exposure in women and children is more serious. Biomass smoke contains lots of toxic and harmful substances which may impact the health of human. This article presented a recent research progress in the indoor air pollution and health effects caused by combustion of biomass fuels in China and in the world.