Indoor Air Problems and Hoarseness in Children.
OBJECTIVES
A well-functioning voice is becoming increasingly important because voice-demanding professions are increasing. The largest proportion of voice disorders is caused by factors in the environment. Moisture damage is common and can initiate microbial growth and/or diffusion of chemicals from building materials. Indoor air problems due to moisture damage are associated with a number of health symptoms, for example, rhinitis, cough, and asthma symptoms. The purpose of this study was to investigate if children attending a day care center, preschool, or school with indoor air problems due to moisture damage were hoarse more often than the children in a control group.


METHODS
Information was collected through electronic and paper questionnaires from the parents of 6- to 9-year-old children (n = 1857) attending 57 different day care centers, preschools, or schools with or without indoor air problems due to moisture damage.


RESULTS
The results showed a significant correlation between the degree of indoor air problem due to moisture damage and the frequency of hoarseness. Significant predictors for the child being hoarse every week or more often were dry cough, phlegm cough, and nasal congestion.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that these symptoms and exposure to indoor air problems due to moisture damage should be included in voice anamnesis. Furthermore, efforts should be made to remediate indoor air problems due to moisture damage and to treat health symptoms.
['Kallvik|Emma|E|', 'Putus|Tuula|T|', 'Simberg|Susanna|S|']
D000367:Age Factors D000393:Air Pollutants D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor D016022:Case-Control Studies D002648:Child D002656:Child Day Care Centers D004781:Environmental Exposure D005260:Female D005387:Finland D006685:Hoarseness D006801:Humans D008297:Male D018570:Risk Assessment D012307:Risk Factors D012574:Schools D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires D014833:Voice Quality D014871:Water Microbiology
Indoor air problems Hoarseness Children Moisture damage Health symptoms School buildings