Continuous avoidance measures with or without acaricide in dust mite-allergic asthmatic children.
BACKGROUND
Improvement in the quality of life in the Western world and increased time spent indoors by children have enhanced the spread of house dust mites and increased the exposure time for sensitive children. Also, exposure to house dust mites in infancy and subsequent development of childhood asthma have been clinically linked. Recently, new acaricides have been developed.


OBJECTIVE
To test the efficacy of the new acaricide (esdepallethin and piperonyl butoxide--"Acardust") combined with environmental control compared with continuous house dust mite avoidance measures.


METHODS
Forty-six house dust mite-allergic, asthmatic children were evaluated for 6 months in a prospective, randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled study. Patients were randomly allocated to active and placebo acaricide treatment combined with avoidance measures, whereas only continuous avoidance measures were taken in the third group. Symptom score, medication usage, and peak flow measurements were recorded daily. The amount of house dust mite allergen in the dust vacuumed from the bedrooms was also measured.


RESULTS
Morning and evening peak expiratory flow rates and forced expiratory volume in one second remained unchanged throughout the study period. In all groups, the symptom scores improved significantly, whereas the amount of house dust mite allergen decreased significantly at the end of the trial.


CONCLUSIONS
Continuous house dust mite avoidance measures have a significant positive effect on the symptomology of children with mild or moderate asthma. "Acardust" combined with continuous house dust mite avoidance measures is not more effective than continuous house dust mite avoidance measures alone in the treatment of house dust mite-allergic, asthmatic children.
Bahir
A
A
Allergy and Clinical Immunology Unit, Sapir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel.
Goldberg
A
A
Mekori
Y A
YA
Confino-Cohen
R
R
Morag
H
H
Rosen
Y
Y
Monakir
D
D
Rigler
S
S
Cohen
A H
AH
Horev
Z
Z
Noviski
N
N
Mandelberg
A
A
D000336:Aerosols; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004391:Dust; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D007306:Insecticides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008925:Mites / Q000276:immunology*; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate; D010882:Piperonyl Butoxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D010919:Placebos; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology
D000336:Aerosols; D004391:Dust; D007306:Insecticides; D010919:Placebos; D010882:Piperonyl Butoxide