WEDNESDAY, April 16 (HealthDay News) -- Trying to alleviate your
asthma by eliminating household dust? Forget about it, a new study
suggests.
A comprehensive review of 54 dust-control strategy studies found
that none was effective enough in reducing exposure to dust mites
that it would improve one's asthma. The methods looked at included
using chemicals to kill the little buggers, encasing mattresses and
pillows in mite-proof covers, frequently washing linens in hot
water or bleach, and even tossing toys, plants and furniture out of
a home.
"We can conclude with confidence that there is no need to buy
expensive vacuum cleaners or mattress covers or to use chemical
methods against house dust mites, because these treatments do not
work," study author Peter Gotzsche, director of The Nordic Cochrane
Centre in Copenhagen, Denmark, said in a prepared statement.
The review was just published in
The Cochrane Library.
Dust mites are microscopic arthropods that carry allergens that
irritate bronchial passages and trigger asthma attacks. For years,
people have tried to defeat dust mites, but they apparently
outnumber and outmaneuver human ingenuity.
"If you are wondering why it is that mattress covers and the
other strategies are not effective, the likely answer is that all
these treatments do not have a large enough effect on the
occurrence of allergens from house dust mites," Gotzsche said. "The
level of allergens is so high in most homes that what remains after
the treatment is still high enough to cause asthma attacks."
Asthma attacks can be brought on in mite-sensitive people even
when allergen levels are very low. For example, while some of the
anti-dust methods reviewed cut allergen levels in half, even 90
percent elimination proved inadequate to help many asthma
sufferers, Gotzsche said.
The review, Gotzsche said, shows people are being mislead by the
2007 U.S. guidelines from the National Asthma Education and
Prevention program. The program recommends actions such as putting
mattresses and pillows in dust-proof encasings, and weekly hot
water washings of sheets, blankets and stuffed toys.
"Reviews and guidelines should reflect the facts," he said. "It
is difficult, perhaps, to realize that we cannot really do
anything, but there is no evidence to support these guidelines, and
they are misleading. It is about time specialists start becoming
honest with patients."
More information
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute has more about
the causes of asthma.
