A study conducted by the European Respiratory Society has found that bacteria-containing dust in day care centers could potentially put children at a higher risk of developing asthma. The researchers collected dust samples from 103 different day care facilities in Paris, France, and analyzed them in the lab to identify the bacteria present.
Of the four types of bacteria found, one of them, which included Streptococcus and Lactococcus, was linked to an increased risk of wheezing. Wheezing is often a precursor to asthma in children under the age of three. The average age of the children in the tested day care centers was two years old.
Dr. Annabelle Bédard from the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research stated that children in day care centers come into contact with bacteria through their skin, mouths, and by breathing them in. This exposure to bacteria may impact children’s developing lungs and contribute to the development of asthma.
The findings highlight the need to investigate indoor air quality in day care centers further. Factors such as cleaning and ventilation methods, as well as indoor air quality, may influence the bacterial community. Understanding these factors could help improve conditions and inform public health strategies to prevent chronic respiratory diseases like asthma in children.
The study researchers also plan to follow the health of the children in the study to determine if they develop asthma as they grow older. It’s important to note that wheezing is not always a sign of asthma, and factors such as frequency, severity, and family history of allergies, asthma, and eczema should be considered.
In order to minimize the risk of wheezing and other lung issues in children attending day care facilities, it is recommended to keep all rooms clean and well-ventilated and to monitor indoor air quality. It is crucial to conduct further studies on these complex bacteria communities to understand their association with long-term lung issues in children.
Sources:
– European Respiratory Society study
– Dr. Annabelle Bédard from the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research
– Dr. Steven Abelowitz, founder and medical director of Coastal Kids Pediatrics and medical director of Pediatric Associates.
