Allergic Rhinitis and asthma in association with fungal pollution of indoor environments

Allergy or asthma is triggered by inhaling allergens such as dust, mites, pet dander, pollens, and fungal molds. Samples were collected from various indoor environments including air conditioner filters, carpets, indoor plant soil, living room air, and pillow covers of fifty residents living in air-conditioned flats for screening the fungal pollution of indoor environments and their role in allergies and asthma. This study included 30 residents with school-aged children suffering from allergies or asthma and a healthy control group of another 20 other residential indoor environments. The fungi isolated from indoor environments include Aspergillus niger, A. nidulans, A. flavus, A. fumigatus, Alternaria sp., Paeciliomyces species, Bipolaris species, Trichophyton verrucosum, and T. rubrum. Aspergillus species were isolated from all environments while Trichophyton species were only isolated from indoor plant soil. The fungal presence was higher in the indoor environments of group 1 with allergic rhinitis and asthma with a significant p-value