title: Placebo-controlled trial of house dust mite-impermeable mattress covers: effect on symptoms in early childhood.
abstract: We investigated the effect of house dust mite (HDM)-allergen avoidance on the development of respiratory symptoms, atopic dermatitis, and atopic sensitization by performing a double blind, placebo-controlled trial. In total, 1,282 allergic pregnant women were selected (416 received HDM allergen-impermeable mattress covers for the parents' and child's mattress in the third trimester of pregnancy [active], 394 received placebo covers, 472 received no intervention). Data on allergen exposure, clinical symptoms, and immunoglobulin E were collected prospectively. The prevalence of night cough without a cold in the second year of life was lower in the group with active covers compared with the group with placebo covers (adjusted odds ratio 0.65; 95% confidence interval 0.4-1.0). No effect of the intervention was seen on other respiratory symptoms, atopic dermatitis, and total and specific immunoglobulin E. It can be concluded that application of HDM-impermeable mattress covers on the child's and parents' beds reduced night cough, but not other respiratory symptoms, atopic dermatitis, and atopic sensitization in the first 2 years of life. Follow-up will determine the long-term effect of the intervention on the development of atopic disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus University Medical Center/Sophia Children's Hospital, 3000 CB Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Laurens P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Koopman
authors.forename: Rob T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: van Strien
authors.forename: Marjan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kerkhof
authors.forename: Alet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wijga
authors.forename: Henriette A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Smit
authors.forename: Johan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: de Jongste
authors.forename: Jorrit
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gerritsen
authors.forename: Rob C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Aalberse
authors.forename: Bert
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brunekreef
authors.forename: Herman J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Neijens
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001512:Bedding and Linens; D001513:Beds; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004391:Dust / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008925:Mites; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013983:Tick Control
chemical_list: D004391:Dust