Allergic Rhinitis and Atopic Dermatitis in Association with Home Environment among Adolescents from Urban and Suburban Areas

Introduction:This study aimed to determine the associations between home environment exposures and allergic rhinitis (AR) and atopic dermatitis (AD) among adolescents living in Hulu Langat, Selangor, Malaysia. Method: This comparative cross-sectional study involved adolescents residing in both suburban and urban areas within Hulu Langat district. Information on allergic rhinitis and home environment exposure was gathered from 546 adolescents aged 14-year-old using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Children (ISAAC) questionnaire. Results: The prevalence of AR and AD for urban and suburban adolescents were 59.8% and 40.2%, and 64.9% and 35.1%, respectively. A logistic regression analysis showed that frequency ETS exposure (OR=1.12, 95% CI= 1.02-1.24), furry pet (OR=1.20, 95%CI= 1.17-1.24), indoor painting (OR=1.26, 95%CI= 1.01-1.61), floor renovation (OR=1.70, 95%CI= 1.25-2.32), water leakage (OR=1.22, 95%CI= 1.19-1.26) and mold odor in the last 12 months (OR=1.51, 95%CI= 1.06-2.15) were associated with AR among adolescents living in urban areas. Nevertheless, floor renova tion (OR=1.91, 95%CI= 1.01-4.04), water leakage exposure (OR=1.81, 95%CI= 1.03-3.19) and other odor last 12 months (OR=2.37, 95%CI= 1.32-4.25) exposures were linked to an increased likelihood of AR among adolescents from the suburban area. Conclusion: The findings suggest that various home environmental exposures play a sig nificant role in the occurrence of AR among adolescents, emphasizing the need for improved home environment management to reduce allergy-related health risks.