ABSTRACT
The relationship between outdoor air pollution and acute respiratory infections (ARI) was previously documented. There are recent indications for connection between indoor air pollution and ARI in infants and young children. The aim of this study was to identify the relationship of indoor air pollutants to acute lower respiratory infection (ALRI) in children (< 2 years). The indoor air pollutants concentrations were measured in the homes of the sample. The sample consisted of 115 children (< 2 years) representing the control group (24), ALRI but no pneumonia (24), pneumonia (30), severe pneumonia or very severe disease (37). Air sampling was performed to measure the concentration of total suspended particulates (TSP), SO2 and CO. These pollutants were found in higher concentrations in cases' homes (52.46 +/- 19.68 microg/m3, 298.15 +/- 669.37 microg/m3, and 1.92 +/- 3.60 ppm) than in controls' homes (31.92 +/- 8.76 microg/m3, not detected, and 0.33 +/- 1.63 ppm respectively). Whereas SO2 was detected only in houses using kerosene, TSP and CO were detected with the different types of cooking fuels. Their mean concentrations were highest for biomass (88.86 +/- 13.30 microg/m3 and 9.29 +/- 2.50 ppm) and lowest for gas (40.78 +/- 15.25 microg/m3 and 0.76 +/- 2.19 ppm). Measures to improve indoor air quality are highly required.
Subject(s)
Air Pollution, Indoor , Cooking , Environmental Exposure , Respiratory Tract Infections , Acute Disease , Air Pollution, Indoor/adverse effects , Air Pollution, Indoor/analysis , Analysis of Variance , Carbon Monoxide/adverse effects , Carbon Monoxide/analysis , Case-Control Studies , Child Welfare/statistics & numerical data , Child, Preschool , Cooking/methods , Egypt/epidemiology , Environmental Exposure/adverse effects , Environmental Exposure/analysis , Environmental Monitoring/methods , Epidemiological Monitoring , Gasoline , Heating , Hospitals, Pediatric , Humans , Infant , Kerosene , Respiratory Tract Infections/epidemiology , Respiratory Tract Infections/etiology , Risk Factors , Seasons , Sulfur Dioxide/adverse effects , Sulfur Dioxide/analysis , Urban Health/statistics & numerical dataABSTRACT
Use of fetal calf serum as a serum supplement in whole blood microcultures of human lymphocytes resulted in a significant suppression of in vitro stimulation with herpes simplex virus (type 1) antigen, purified protein derivative, and phytohemagglutinin. If the response to viral antigen is weak in autologous serum it may be completely missed if cultures are carried out in fetal calf serum.
