HOUSE DUST MITE EXPOSURE AND EMERGENCY HOSPITAL ADMISSION OF ASTHMATIC-CHILDREN

In this study we investigated household exposure to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus antigen Der p I and attacks in asthmatic children. Twenty-two children with asthma, of whom 11 were acute cases (AC) and 11 their age- and sex-matched case controls (CC), were studied. All had major skin-prick reactions to mite. Dust samples were collected by vaccuuming the furnishings and their Der p I content measured. The initial Der p I content from most sampling sites appeared higher in the AC than in the CC children: the Der p I in the AC homes had apparently fallen 2 months later, but did not change in the CC homes. In the AC children, the specific IgE levels decreased after 2 months (p<0.05). The present results support the view that increased mite exposure in sensitized asthmatics is associated with emergency hospital admissions.