House dust mite avoidance for children with asthma in homes of low-income families.
BACKGROUND
Home exposure to high levels of house dust mite allergen has been shown to aggravate airways reactivity and asthma.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine whether specific house dust mite control measures could reduce exposure levels and asthma severity.


METHODS
This double-blinded, randomized trial compared asthma progression over 1 year in children whose homes received standard environmental control intervention with those whose homes received aggressive intervention for dust mite elimination. The primary end point was doubling in PD20 methacholine.


RESULTS
Symptom scores and quality-of-life scores were similar for the standard and aggressive intervention groups. PD20 methacholine doubling occurred in 9 members of the aggressive intervention group vs 4 control patients (P <.05). Dust mite levels decreased in the aggressive intervention homes compared with the standard intervention homes (P <.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Aggressive dust mite intervention decreased dust mite levels and improved bronchial hyperresponsiveness.
Shapiro
G G
GG
A.S.T.H.M.A., Inc, Seattle, WA, USA.
Wighton
T G
TG
Chinn
T
T
Zuckrman
J
J
Eliassen
A H
AH
Picciano
J F
JF
Platts-Mills
T A
TA
D000293:Adolescent; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000485:Allergens / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000941:Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001507:Beclomethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D004205:Cromolyn Sodium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004391:Dust; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000276:immunology*; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D016210:Methacholine Chloride; D008925:Mites / Q000276:immunology*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014221:Triamcinolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000485:Allergens; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000941:Antigens; D004391:Dust; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D006023:Glycoproteins; D016210:Methacholine Chloride; D014221:Triamcinolone; C059296:Fel d 1 protein, Felis domesticus; D001507:Beclomethasone; D004205:Cromolyn Sodium