State and federal health officials found little evidence of respiratory problems in New Orleans residents prompted by post-Hurricane Katrina conditions.
Researchers from the state Office of Public Health and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention looked at emergency room visits between October and March and found more than 1 percent were for asthma and 7 percent for respiratory infection.
They looked at more than 56,000 visits and said the percentages virtually matched national averages.
Officials were worried that dampness and mold in the flooded homes and buildings would lead to what has been dubbed "Katrina Cough."
"We're not saying there is no problem," said Raoult Ratard, a state epidemiologist. "We're trying to say it's not the big huge 'Katrina Cough' that will keep you out of New Orleans."
The study found more people living in damaged and moldy homes had respiratory problems than those who didn't and more than those who worked to fix the homes.
The levels weren't significant, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.
Copyright 2006 by United Press International
Related stories:
Southern California wildfires pose health risks to children
In October of 2003, multiple wildfires raged throughout Southern California. Now, researchers at the University of Southern California (USC) report that residents without asthma in wildfire-endangered regions suffered as much as those with asthma.
Physical and sexual abuse linked to asthma in Puerto Rican kids
Children who are physically or sexually abused are more than twice as likely to have asthma as their peers, according to a recent study of urban children in Puerto Rico. In fact, physical and sexual abuse was second only to maternal asthma in all the risk factors tested, including paternal asthma and indicators of socioeconomic status.
Flu shot does not reduce risk of death
The widely-held perception that the influenza vaccination reduces overall mortality risk in the elderly does not withstand careful scrutiny, according to researchers in Alberta. The vaccine does confer protection against specific strains of influenza, but its overall benefit appears to have been exaggerated by a number of observational studies that found a very large reduction in all-cause mortality among elderly patients who had been vaccinated.
Health of Afghan children jeopardized by family behaviors, not just war
Family values and ongoing conflict within the country are dramatically affecting the health of young children in Afghanistan. A study published in the open access journal
BMC Public Health suggests that poor child health can be linked to a lack of maternal education and a lack of autonomy for mothers when seeking healthcare for their children. In addition, mothers who were married as children tend to have offspring with poorer health.
Stick with simple antibiotics for pneumonia to avoid super bugs, says researcher
Australian hospitals should avoid prescribing expensive broad-spectrum antibiotics for pneumonia to avoid the development of more drug-resistant super bugs, according to a University of Melbourne study.
Many US public schools in 'air pollution danger zone'
One in three U.S. public schools are in the "air pollution danger zone," according to new research from the University of Cincinnati (UC). UC researchers have found that more than 30 percent of American public schools are within 400 meters, or a quarter mile, of major highways that consistently serve as main truck and traffic routes.
'Toxic Tour' takes in Los Angeles' dirty little secrets
Whether you want to see the multi-million dollar home of a Hollywood celebrity or the scene of an infamous crime, Los Angeles has a guided tour to suit almost every taste.
UC San Diego Medical Center Studies Mystery of Mother's Milk
“Breast is best” is a mantra every new mom hears with when it comes to feeding her newborn. Human milk is known to boost brain development, prevent life-threatening infections, decrease allergies, and promote stronger bones and a higher IQ. But what’s a mother to do when her premature infant weighs only ounces and is not able to swallow the milk?