The assessment of allergy and respiratory symptoms among secondary school students in Kota Kinabalu: influence of microorganisms in school environment

Mohd Fuad, Siti Raihan (2019) The assessment of allergy and respiratory symptoms among secondary school students in Kota Kinabalu: influence of microorganisms in school environment. [Project Paper] (Submitted)

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Abstract

Introduction: Recently, a healthy educational building becomes a concern issue because it was related to human health especially among children. Indoor air can be contaminated by multiple pollutants such as tobacco smoke, cooking fumes, furniture, biological sources and from outdoor (vehicle and open burning). Kota Kinabalu often experiencing open burning and it affected the Air Pollutant Index (API). Objectives: To determine the relationship between the microorganisms in classroom indoor air with allergy and respiratory symptoms among secondary school students. Methodology: A cross sectional study was conducted among 316 students from Form 2 randomly selected from six schools in Kota Kinabalu. Building inspection, environmental sampling and skin prick test were conducted and a set of questionnaire adapted from International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) was distributed and completed by students with their parent consent. Carbon dioxide, relative air humidity and temperature were measured by using Air Velocity Meter (Model TSI 9565-P) and the bacteria and fungi were collected by using The BUCK Bio-Culture Pump (Model C102285). Skin prick test was performed for common allergens such as house dust mites, cat and mold. The data were analyzed by using SPSS version 21 and STATA statistical package 11.0. Outcome: Gram positive bacillus was the most frequently found in this study. The average bacterial and fungal concentrations in indoor air were 44.50 cfu/m³ and 18.50 cfu/m³. Findings showed, most of reported respiratory symptoms were associated with house dust mite and cat allergy. Conclusion: High prevalence of health symptoms reported by respondents including breathlessness after exercise and on day time, wheezing and whistling in the chest and breathlessness without flu. House dust mite (Derp 1 and Derf) were the highest prevalence reported on the allergy among the students. Parental asthma and family smoking were the risk factors to the reported health symptoms. Keywords: Microorganisms, allergy, respiratory symptoms, skin prick test

Item Type:	Project Paper
Subjects:	R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine
Faculty:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Science
Depositing User:	Ms Norafizah Radzuan
Date Deposited:	18 Mar 2026 06:50
Last Modified:	18 Mar 2026 06:50
URI:	http://psaspb.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/2782

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