The association of housing conditions with wheezing in children up to 36 month old : an observational study in Arco Ribeirinho region: Associação das características da habitação com episódios de sibilância em bebés até 36 meses: Estudo observacional na região do Arco Ribeirinho

Infant mortality due to respiratory disease is a major cause of concern for global health. The prevalence of asthma and other respiratory diseases in early childhood is still high, overburdening health care services and systems. Housing conditions where early infancy is spent has been associated with the incidence of respiratory diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible association between housing characteristics and the occurrence of wheezing episodes in children under 36 months of age. A cross-sectional study was performed on a sample of children under 36 months of age in Arco Ribeirinho region. 131 participants were selected through the children consultation services. Most lived in apartments in an urban setting. There was no association between wheezing and the type of housing (house vs. apartment) nor with the area (urban vs. rural). However, it was found that room area has an influence on the occurrence of wheezing episodes: smaller rooms tend to present babies with more incidences of episodes. In future investigations, it will be important to explore the causes of this association, namely the contribution that some indoor air pollutants may have to wheezing and respiratory disease in infants.