Do mite avoidance measures affect mite and cat airborne allergens?
BACKGROUND
Effective mite allergen avoidance measures are presumed to reduce airborne allergens yet the quantity in the air is rarely measured.


OBJECTIVE
To monitor airborne allergen during a placebo-controlled mite allergen avoidance study.


METHODS
Bedrooms of 56 atopic asthmatic children were randomly allocated to hot washing and encasing covers + acaricide (active regime) or placebo treatment. Dust was collected from the mattress, bedding and carpets; airborne allergen was measured using Casella samplers and dust settling in open Petri dishes. Der p 1, Der p 2 and Fel d 1 were measured.


RESULTS
After 24 weeks of mite allergen avoidance the Casella air-samplers collected Der p 1 less frequently in active than placebo-treated bedrooms (0 vs. 29%, P<0.05) and Petri dishes in the active group collected less than baseline (0.2 vs. 0.6 ng/day P<0.05). Homes without cats had less cat allergen than cat-owning homes and when actively treated for 24 weeks showed a greater reduction (P = 0.03) in mattress cat allergen than the placebo group.


CONCLUSIONS
Encasing covers and hot washing of bed linen reduced mite aeroallergen (and mattress cat allergen in the absence of cats). This could mean dual benefits to a patient sensitive to both mite and cat.
Institute of Child Health, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Bristol, UK.
F
F
Carswell
J
J
Oliver
J
J
Weeks
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000485:Allergens / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D001249:Asthma / Q000517:prevention & control; D001512:Bedding and Linens; D002415:Cats / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis*; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D008925:Mites / Q000276:immunology*
D000393:Air Pollutants; D000485:Allergens; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D006023:Glycoproteins; C059296:Fel d 1 protein, Felis domesticus