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Query: UMLS:C0010200 (cough)
 23,843 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

We studied the relation between the amount of textile and other soft fiber wall materials used in the office and the symptoms related to sick building syndrome in two identical, mechanically ventilated, eight-story office buildings. The study population consisted of 400 workers (85% of the source population): 264 males (66%) and 136 females (34%). A self-administered questionnaire inquired about the occurrence of symptoms and related personal and environmental determinants. The office environment was assessed concurrently. Exposure was defined as the surface area of textile or other soft wall material (SWM) in the office. The outcomes were formed using the 7-d prevalences of individual symptoms, including mucosal irritation score (eye irritation, nasal dryness, nasal congestion, pharyngeal irritation); allergic reaction score (eye irritation, nasal congestion, nasal excretion, sneezing); asthma reaction score (wheezing, breathlessness, cough); skin reaction score (dryness, itch, or irritation, rash); and general symptom score (headache, lethargy). In the logistic regression controlling for potential confounders, the adjusted odds ratio for the symptoms of mucosal irritation was 1.82 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 1.14, 2.90) in the low-exposure group, compared with the unexposed reference group; and 2.46 (95% CI = 1.15, 5.28) in the high-exposure group, compared with the reference group. Corresponding odds ratios for the symptoms of allergic reaction were 1.82 (95% CI = 1.14, 2.90) and 3.16 (95% CI = 1.41, 7.09). No difference was found in the risk for asthmatic or skin reactions or general symptoms. The results support a hypothesis that textile and other soft-fiber wall materials used in the office environment are possible determinants of sick building syndrome.
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PMID:Textile wall materials and sick building syndrome. 818 88

It has been difficult to confirm that a given building is responsible for allergic symptomatology, exacerbation of asthma, or immunological dysfunction. In fact, in most studies, few objective immunological parameters have been studied and only rarely has there been any quantitation of IgE or secondary mediators. Furthermore, although many studies deal with rhinitis or respiratory tract irritation, there is a misconception that all such symptoms are allergic in nature, and studies attempting to prove that allergies are caused by buildings frequently neglect to prove that these are indeed true allergic responses. In addition, many of the symptoms that people attribute to sick building syndrome (SBS) or building-related illness, such as headaches, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, cough, and eye irritation, are subjective, and studies often fail to take into account other possible causes that may be inherent in the subjects, such as sinusitis, hyperventilation syndrome, or psychosomatic illness. Unfortunately, most clinical studies on SBS pay little attention to the preexisting conditions that a subject may have and discount the possibility that the inciting agent does not cause symptoms, but merely exacerbates a preexisting condition. Moreover, they offer no information about the nature of the mechanisms of action or pathophysiological relationships. Clearly, further studies are necessary to further explain the complexity of complaints that currently exist. Indeed, SBS might properly be paraphrased as "what is it?--if it is!"
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PMID:The sick building syndrome. I. Definition and epidemiological considerations. 833 Oct 40

The Helsinki Office Environment Study, a population-based cross-sectional study was carried out in Finland in 1991 among 2,678 workers in 41 randomly selected office buildings. The aim was to evaluate the relations between work with office equipment and supplies and the occurrence of eye, nasopharyngeal, skin, and general symptoms (often denoted as sick building syndrome (SBS)), chronic respiratory symptoms, and respiratory infections. Work with self-copying paper was significantly related to weekly work-related eye, nasopharyngeal, and skin symptoms, headache and lethargy, as well as to the occurrence of wheezing, cough, mucus production, sinusitis, and acute bronchitis. Photocopying was related to nasal irritation, and video display terminal work to eye symptoms, headache, and lethargy.
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PMID:Office equipment and supplies: a modern occupational health concern? 1099 50

Functional somatic syndromes (FSS) are characterized by patterns of persistent bodily complaints for which adequate examination does not reveal sufficiently explanatory structural or other specified pathology. Here we reviewed the following diseases or pathologies: nervous cough, vocal cord dysfunction, multiple chemical sensitivity and sick building syndrome. All of these often accompany co-morbid psychiatric disorders, such as anxiety disorder and depression. Therefore, bio-psycho-social understanding and approach are required for diagnosis and treatment of patients with these diseases. Specific psychotherapy may be applicable when symptoms are aggravated by psychological factors.
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PMID:[Functional somatic syndromes in the treatment of allergic diseases and their related disorders]. 1976 12

Microorganisms are known to produce a range of volatile organic compounds, so-called microbial VOC (MVOC). Chamber studies where humans were exposed to MVOC addressed the acute effects of objective and/or subjective signs of mucosal irritation. However, the effect of MVOC on inhabitants due to household exposure is still unclear. The purpose of this epidemiological study was to measure indoor MVOC levels in single family homes and to evaluate the relationship between exposure to them and sick building syndrome (SBS). All inhabitants of the dwellings were given a self-administered questionnaire with standardized questions to assess their symptoms. Air samples were collected and the concentrations of eight selected compounds in indoor air were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry - selective ion monitoring mode (GC/MS-SIM). The most frequently detected MVOC was 1-pentanol at a detection rate of 78.6% and geometric mean of 0.60 microg/m(3). Among 620 participants, 120 (19.4%) reported one or more mucous symptoms; irritation of the eyes, nose, airway, or coughing every week (weekly symptoms), and 30 (4.8%) reported that the symptoms were home-related (home-related symptoms). Weekly symptoms were not associated with any of MVOC, whereas significant associations between home-related mucous symptoms and 1-octen-3-ol (per log(10)-unit: odds ratio (OR) 5.6, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.1 to 14.8) and 2-pentanol (per log(10)-unit: OR 2.3, 95% CI: 1.0 to 4.9) were obtained after adjustment for gender, age, and smoking. Associations between home-related symptoms and 1-octen-3-ol remained after mutual adjustment. However, concentrations of the selected compounds in indoors were lower than the estimated safety level in animal studies. Thus, the statistically significant association between 1-octen-3-ol may be due to a direct effect of the compounds or the associations may be being associated with other offending compounds. Additional studies are needed to evaluate these possibilities.
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PMID:Relationship between selected indoor volatile organic compounds, so-called microbial VOC, and the prevalence of mucous membrane symptoms in single family homes. 2018 99

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) emerged as a science from the 1970s onwards with the energy crisis and the subsequent construction of sealed buildings (without natural ventilation). This mainly occurred in developed countries and it soon came to public attention that lower levels of air exchange in these environments was the main culprit for the increase in concentration of indoor air pollutants. It is common knowledge that ventilation is one of the principal factors that interfere with air quality in indoor environments and that the occupants contribute to the pollution of these environments with their activities. Furthermore, poor indoor air quality is associated with some diseases (cough, rhinitis, allergy, etc.) and with Sick Building Syndrome (SBS). For sampling of the indoor contaminants there are several methodologies, available including passive monitoring systems, active and automatic systems. To ensure a healthy indoor environment, the application of specific legislation needs to be reconciled with research and fostering awareness among the occupants of such buildings. This survey seeks to identify the different contaminants found in internal environments, their effects on human health and the methodologies available for sampling them.
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PMID:[Air pollution in internal environments and sick building syndrome]. 2186 Sep 58