Schools as source of child allergies

A recent study suggests that public places, including schools and daycare centres are sources of exposure to allergens derived from mites, cockroach, cats, dogs and endotoxins derived from bacteria.Researchers from the Federal University of Sao Paulo, Brazil assessed the level of allergies from mite, cockroach, cat and dog in dust samples collected from 60 public child-care facilities in Brazil, including daycare centres, pre-schools, kindergartens and elementary schools. The samples were vacuumed from bedding, floors, chairs and tables. Overall, roughly two thirds of samples collected from daycare centres and pre-schools had levels of mite allergens that were greater than the threshold 2 microgram per gram of dust. The presence of bedding in daycare centres and pre-schools accounted for increased levels of mite allergens in these settings. However only 9% of kindergartens and 2% of elementary schools had high levels of mite allergens. Cockroach allergen levels, however, were highest in samples collected from elementary school floors, in comparison to daycare centre and pre-school floors. Levels of endotoxin in daycare centres and pre-schools were 3 times higher than in elementary schools. Cat and dog allergen levels were generally low in most of the dust samples.These results suggest that current cleaning procedures carried out in these facilities were not sufficient for decreasing the allergen and endotoxin levels. Daycare centres and schools should be considered as important sources of exposure to dust mites and cockroach allergens and to endotoxin. Recommendations for mite allergen avoidance should include appropriate care of bedding at these places.