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Effects of Microstop-treated anti-mite bedding on children with mite-sensitive asthma
1Department of Pediatrics, Taipei Municipal Women and Children Hospital, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Insights
New bedding, particularly impermeable polyurethane-coated nylon, significantly reduced house dust mites and improved asthma symptoms in children. This suggests a system approach to bedding can be effective for asthma prevention.
Area of Science:
- Allergy and Immunology
- Environmental Health
- Pediatrics
Background:
- House dust mites are a major allergen triggering asthma in children.
- Conventional bedding materials may harbor significant mite populations.
- Effective mite control strategies are crucial for managing pediatric asthma.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of Microstop-treated bedding in reducing house dust mites.
- To assess the impact of Microstop-treated bedding on asthma symptom scores and peak expiratory flow in children.
- To compare mite reduction and asthma control between impermeable coated-nylon bedding, conventional bedding, and old bedding.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 71 children with mite-sensitive asthma.
- Three groups: Microstop-treated bedding (impermeable PU-coated nylon), conventional bedding, and old bedding.
- Mite counts, peak expiratory flow, and asthma symptom scores were monitored over 12 months.
Main Results:
- Mattress mite counts significantly decreased in the Microstop-treated group (Group 1).
- Quilt mite counts significantly decreased in both Microstop-treated (Group 1) and conventional new bedding groups (Group 2).
- Asthma symptom scores significantly improved in Group 1, indicating the bedding system's effectiveness.
Conclusions:
- Impermeable polyurethane-coated nylon bedding effectively reduces house dust mites.
- The Microstop-treated bedding system demonstrated significant improvement in pediatric asthma symptoms.
- Bedding material, specifically impermeable barriers, plays a key role in managing mite-sensitive asthma.
Abstract:
Seventy-one children with mite-sensitive asthma were randomly divided into three groups. Group 1 was comprised of 28 patients who were provided with new Microstop-treated bedding including matresses, quilts, pillows, bed linens and quilt covers. The Microstop mattresses and pillows were made of impermeable Polyurethane coated nylon ticking. Group 2 included 28 patients who were provided with new, conventional, mat Polyurethane mattresses, quilts, pillows, bed linens and quilt covers made of cotton and polyester which had not been Microstop treated. Group 3 included 15 patients who used their old bedding. Mite counts were performed on samples of dust collected from the old mattresses, pillows and quilts before the bedding was changed. After changing the bedding, mite counts were performed on dust from the same three bed sites at the end of months 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, and 12. Morning and evening peak expiratory flow, asthma symptom scores, were recorded by each patient at least 1 month before entering the study and every month during the one-year study period. Mattress mite counts were significantly reduced in Group 1 but not in Groups 2 or 3. However, quilt mite counts were significantly reduced in both Group 1 and Group 2 throughout the 12-monthstudy while mite counts in Group 3 quilts remained unchanged. The results provide evidence that the PU-coated nylon material was effective in reducing house dust mites, but do not demonstrate that the Microstop treatment had an obvious anti-mite effect. One-year follow-up of asthma symptom scores showed significant improvement in Group 1, but not in Groups 2 or 3. This suggests that the Microstop-treated bedding, as a system, was effective in asthma prevention.