Mite-sensitive asthma of childhood. Trial of avoidance measures.

A trial of the effects of measures designed to reduce exposure to house-dust mites was performed on 14 children with mite-sensitive asthma. These measures reduced mite infestation of the beds and were associated with clinical improvement of asthmatic symptoms. Immunological studies revealed a tendency for levels of total serum IgE to fall during the course of the trial, but no such changes were apparent in the levels of anti-mite specific serum IgE. Possible reasons for this discrepancy are discussed. The conclusion of the study is that the use of a plastic mattress cover and the other inexpensive and harmless avoidance measures described should be advised for all asthmatic children with evidence of mite-sensitivity before resort to drug prophylaxis or hyposensitization procedures.