爱思唯尔期刊《过敏与临床免疫学杂志》(Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology)最近刊登了美国哥伦比亚大学的一项最新研究，研究发现鼠与蟑螂都是哮喘引起哮喘和过敏症的过敏源，特别是造成内城（市中心贫民区）儿童哮喘的一个重要因素。

在美国1500万哮喘病患者中有500万是儿童，而内城（市中心贫民区）发病率更高。研究人员发现，鼠与蟑螂是造成内城儿童哮喘的一个重要因素，是引起哮喘和过敏症的过敏源。鼠与蟑螂自身就携带大量细菌和病毒，而它们的排泄物、呕吐物能够引起人类过敏性反应，引起咳嗽、哮喘、鼻炎、湿疹等疾病。另外，由于蟑螂住在阴暗不为人知之处，死蟑螂会分解成小粒子再加上它的壳屑、唾液、分泌液具有高度的致敏性，这些物质飘浮于空气中，当人吸进呼吸道时会造成一系列的过敏发炎反应，特別是对抵抗力相对比较弱的儿童。临床上就会有打喷嚏、流鼻水、鼻塞、咳嗽、胸闷、气喘等情况。

研究人员希望有关人员能够关注这些儿童的健康，极力改善内城环境，同时研究人员也建议平时要注意卫生，彻底消除这些过敏源。

推荐原始出处：

Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology，doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2008.08.034，Kathleen M. Donohue, Rachel L. Miller

Anti-cockroach and anti-mouse IgE are associated with early wheeze and atopy in an inner-city birth cohort

Kathleen M. Donohue MDa, Umaima Al-alem PhDe, Matthew S. Perzanowski PhDb, c, Ginger L. Chew ScDb, c, Alina Johnson BAa, b, Adnan Divjanb, c, Elizabeth A. Kelvin PhDd, Lori A. Hoepner MPHb, c, Frederica P. Perera DrPHb, c and Rachel L. Miller MDa, b, c, ,

aDivision of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY
bColumbia Center for Children's Environmental Health (CCCEH), Columbia University, New York, NY
cDepartment of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY
dData Coordinating Center at New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, New York, NY
eDivision of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Ill

Background

The relationships between cockroach and mouse allergen exposure, anti-cockroach and anti-mouse IgE, and wheeze, rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis in children as young as age 3 years are of public health importance but have not been thoroughly evaluated.

Objective

We hypothesized that inner-city children might have anti-cockroach and anti-mouse IgE by age 3 years, and their presence would be associated with respiratory and atopic symptoms.

Methods

Children were followed prospectively from birth through age 3 years (n = 404). Residential levels of cockroach and mouse allergens, sera levels of anti-cockroach and anti-mouse IgE, and parental report of wheeze, rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis were measured.

Results

The odds of early wheeze were significantly higher among children who had IgE to cockroach (odds ratio [OR], 3.3; 95% CI, 1.8-6.2), mouse (OR, 4.6; 95% CI, 2.3-9.0), or both (OR, 9.7; 95% CI, 3.4-27.3). The odds of rhinitis or atopic dermatitis were also higher among children with IgE to cockroach, mouse, or both. Higher IgE class to cockroach and mouse was associated with wheeze and atopic dermatitis (tests for trend, P < .002).

Conclusions

Children age 2 to 3 years who have anti-cockroach and anti-mouse IgE are at increased risk of wheeze and atopy. Moreover, a dose-response relationship was found between higher IgE class and increased prevalence of wheeze, rhinitis, or atopic dermatitis. These findings indicate the importance of reducing exposure to cockroach and mouse allergens for susceptible children.