A reason why measures to avoid mite-induced asthma are more effective in children than in adults.
Mite-sensitive asthmatics seem to respond more markedly to a reduction in mite allergen in the bedding if they are children than if they are adults. In order to investigate this difference, 882 children who attended our allergy clinic were studied. The accompanying parents were asked standardized questions, and skin prick tests to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and D. farinae were performed on the children. The number of hours that the children spent in bed lessened progressively with increasing age, from a mean of 13.6 hrs. for 1 year olds to 9.5 hrs for 17 yr olds: the mean for the total population was 12.0 hrs. This was significantly longer than the mean for the parents, 8.4 hrs (p=.000). It is likely that a longer period of exposure to mite allergen in bed is an important reason why children respond more markedly to avoidance measures in the bedroom than adults do.
Murray
A B
AB
Department of Pediatrics, B.C.'s Children's Hospital, Vancouver, Canada.
Morrison
B J
BJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D001249:Asthma / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001512:Bedding and Linens; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008925:Mites / Q000276:immunology*; D012882:Skin Tests; D013997:Time Factors
D000485:Allergens; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D006023:Glycoproteins