An epidemiological investigation on housing characteristics and asthma and allergy among children in Seoul, Korea

The aim of this study is to investigate the status of child's health including allergy and asthma and home environment in Korea and to explore the association between them. This study is based on self-administered questionnaires and 2740 out of 5107 surveys had been collected and a response rate was 53.7%. Frequent symptoms were rhinitis last 12 month, doctor-diagnosed rhinitis and eczema. Children living in single-family or row houses have shown significantly more eczema and old housing residents has shown more wheezing and coughing than newly built housing residents. Dampness showed different distribution by housing characteristics. Condensation, mold and damp stain were found more often in single family houses and houses built earlier. Children living in homes with dampness showed statistically significant association with allergic symptoms. From these statements it could be expected that dampness is found by different housing character and the found dampness is related to allergy symptoms.