Mouse allergen exposure, wheeze and atopy in the first seven years of life.

This paper describes a prospective study of 498 children with parental history of allergy or asthma followed from birth to age 7 years, with longitudinal questionnaire ascertainment of reported mouse exposure and dust sample mouse urinary protein allergen levels measured at age 2–3 months. Parental report of mouse exposure in the first year of life was associated with increased risk of transient wheeze and wheezing in early life. Current report of mouse exposure was also significantly associated with current wheeze throughout the first 7 years of life. However, early life mouse exposure did not predict asthma, eczema or allergic rhinitis at age 7. Exposure to mouse urinary protein in house dust samples collected at age 2–3 months was associated with a twofold increase in the odds of atopy. Allergy. 2008;63(11):1512-8.