377 Allergen-specific IgE levels in children presenting to the emergency room with acute asthma

House dust mite exposure as a cause of asthma

“…(i) Population studies [7,22,46,94] (ii) Control studies [26,45,52,99,115) (iii) Prospective study [25] 2 Repeated observations in different populations have consistent findings.…”

“…A similar study of children attending an emergency room for treatment of asthma in Florida found that 90% of children were sensitized to the house dust mite compared to 36% in a control group of children attending hospital because of injuries. The level of mite exposure in both groups were similarly high [99]. It would be tempdng to speculate that the high mortality reported in New Zealand among asthmadcs is not only related to medication usage [reviewed in 100] but also due to very high mite allergen exposure: the damp climate supports luxuriant mite growth.…”

Indoor Air Quality: A UK Perspective

“…Asthma is more strongly associated with exposure to house dust mite than with any other indoor allergen, and the changing conditions within homes may play an important part in the increasing prevalence of asthma in the UK. A study in Florida of asthmatics treated in an emergency room for asthma exacerbation found a significantly greater sensitivity and exposure to dust mites than a comparable group of subjects with asthma not requiring emergency treatment [32].…”