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 Reducing exposure to things like second-hand cigarette smoke, dust
mites and furry pets may be as effective as medications at
controlling asthma, according to a new report from the American
Academy of Pediatrics.
Children may be particularly vulnerable to indoor environmental
allergens and pollutants because their airways are still developing
and because they may spend more time on the floor in closer contact
to these irritants than adults, doctors argue in the report
published October 31st in the journal Pediatrics.
“Exposure to indoor allergens, such as furry pet allergens, mice and
cockroaches, and mold, are linked to more severe asthma,” said lead
report author Dr. Elizabeth Matsui of Johns Hopkins University in
Baltimore.
“Children exposed to the things to which they are allergic may
require a higher dose of daily asthma medication and have
exacerbations more frequently,” Matsui added by email. “Once these
exposures are removed, children typically have a marked improvement
in their asthma.”
Asthma is one of the most common chronic childhood illnesses,
affecting as many as 10 percent of U.S. children, researchers note
in the report. Asthma rates are as high as 25 percent in some U.S.
communities.
For the report, researchers focused on previous studies of indoor
irritants and to explore how avoiding certain triggers for asthma
attacks might help keep children healthier.
Up to about two-thirds of children with persistent asthma are
allergic to cats and dogs, according to the report.
Dust mites and mold are more common in environments where humidity
is high, the report notes. An estimated 30 percent to 62 percent of
children with persistent asthma are allergic to dust mites, which
are microscopic members of the spider family, and roughly half are
sensitive to mold and regularly exposed to it.
Cockroaches and rodents may be an even bigger issue, however.
Roughly 75 percent to 80 percent of U.S. homes contain detectable
amounts of mouse allergen, the report says, and concentrations in
homes in urban neighborhoods with high poverty rates are as much as
1,000-fold higher than those found in suburban homes.
While second-hand tobacco smoke exposure is a known problem, parents
and caregivers also need to keep in mind that fumes and fine
particles from gas ranges, wood stoves or fireplaces can be an
irritant for some kids with asthma, the report also warns.
In addition, chemicals found in household cleaners and air
fresheners can be respiratory irritants and trigger asthma symptoms.
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Blood tests can help identify specific triggers for children with
asthma and point parents in the right direction to remove irritants
from the home, the report recommends.
Strategies to minimize indoor asthma triggers may include using
high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters and allergen-proof
mattress, box spring and pillow encasements.
“The association of exposure to indoor irritants and allergens with
poor asthma control and exacerbations has long been established,”
said Dr. David Stukus, a researcher at Nationwide Children's
Hospital and The Ohio State University College of Medicine.
“However, the routine assessment of the indoor environment and
recommendations for tailored interventions is not conducted for most
children with asthma, partly due to lack of awareness and partly due
to the amount of time it takes to be thorough,” Stukus, who wasn’t
involved in the study, added by email.
Not all kids will be triggered by the same irritants, though, and
parents may get a good result for kids by focusing on a select few
pollutants or allergens that pose the biggest problem for their
child, Stukus said.
“It is important to understand the multiple different types of
exposures that can adversely affect anyone with asthma or allergies
and how to reduce exposure. Even things with perceived benefit, such
as essential oils or cleaning products, can be harmful to the
sensitive airways of children with asthma,” Stukus added. “Ongoing
exposure to indoor irritants or allergens will lead to suboptimal
control of asthma, risk for exacerbations, and ultimately decreased
quality of life.”
SOURCE: http://bit.ly/2f5gtQZ
Pediatrics 2016.
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