Abstract
Objective: The study aimed to examine the association between allergic rhinitis and early-life indoor environmental exposure in preschool children in Haikou City, providing a scientific theoretical basis for the prevention of allergic rhinitis in this population.
Methods: In January 2021, we conducted the China Child and Home Health (CCHH) study using a case-control approach with 1090 preschool children in Haikou City, Hainan Province, including 218 cases and 872 controls. The study included baseline demographic information, residential and indoor environmental characteristics, living habits, and children's allergies. Two-level logistical regression analysis was used to examine the association of Early-Life Exposure indoor environment with preschool children allergic rhinitis in terms of odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI).
Results: Mother with an educational level of university or above (OR=1.443, 95% CI=1.024~2.035), having parental atopy (OR=4.604, 95% CI=3.339~6.349), damages or molds found in the mother's residence prior to pregnancy (OR=1.613, 95% CI=1.044~2.493), and passive smoking of the mother during pregnancy (OR=1.833, 95% CI=1.282~2.623) were risk factors for allergic rhinitis in preschool children.
Conclusions: In this case-control study, we found significant associations between parental atopy, mother's education, and indoor environment in early life with the development of allergic rhinitis in preschool children. Therefore, prophylactic measures should be actively implemented in preschool children with allergic parental atopy, as well as preventing the mother's exposure to harmful factors in the indoor environment before and during pregnancy.