Journal of Allergy & Therapy

Abstract

House Dust Mites Avoidance and Allergic Children: A Prospective Study of a New Strategy

Evelyne Jonniaux and Anne-Catherine Mailleux

Background: Dust mites are a frequent cause of allergic rhinitis in children. Reduction of exposure seems to be the most logical way to treat these patients even if its effectiveness is controversial.

Objective: Our aim was to investigate whether a new strategy, attracting and trapping house dust mites outside the mattresses with a new type of device can reduce the symptoms of allergic children.

Methods: In a prospective study, mattresses were treated with a new type of trapping device. The principle of the device is to attract mites outside mattresses, to take them away and to kill them without insecticides. This trapping device was given to 40 children with moderate to severe house dust-mite allergy. Inclusion criteria were a positive RAST to the house dust-mite antigen or to the allergy skin tests. Severity of symptoms was estimated after two weeks by an established score. The results were observed after two uses of the trapping device (2 weeks).

Results: All patients completed the trial. No side effects were observed. At the end of the study, a significant reduction in allergic symptoms was observed. After patients had two uses of the trapping device, significant differences were observed for the nasal congestion, sneezing, nasal itching and ocular itching. No significant difference was observed for the rhinorrhea. The percentages of patients strongly affected by their allergy (with severe or moderate symptoms) and who had mild or none symptoms after two uses of the device were 70% for the nasal congestion, 47% for the sneezing, 62% for the nasal itching, 60% for the ocular itching, and 62% for the rhinorrhea.

Conclusion: Using the trapping device, commercialized under the name of Acar’up®, produced significant and beneficial effects on symptomatology. These results encourage proceeding on this path in the choice of the therapy for those subjects affected by respiratory allergopathy to house dust mites.