Higher Fungal Allergens in Homes of Children with Asthma

Higher Fungal Allergen Levels in Homes of Children with Asthma

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (May 16, 2001) -- Homes of children treated for asthma contained higher fungal allergen levels than homes of other allergy clinic patients in a study published this month in Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, the scientific journal of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI).

"Using well established analytical methods for assessing allergen exposure, we confirmed that there is an association between the presence of fungal allergens in the home and asthmatic disease in children," said co-author Janna M. Tuck, M.D., Cape Girardeau, Mo. The study was conducted at The Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, Mo.

"Previous reports of the relationship of allergen exposure and asthmatic symptoms have not included fungal exposure to any great extent. This study strengthens the growing body of evidence that links asthma and allergen exposure," Dr. Tuck said.

Participants were instructed to submit a sample of dust taken from their vacuum cleaner and were asked to complete a short questionnaire concerning the source of the dust and the general home environment.

Analysis of the 47 dust samples available for the study showed that 50 percent of the homes contained fungal allergens, with levels significantly higher in the homes of asthmatic patients when compared with homes of other allergy clinic patients. Dust samples from all homes contained detectable cat allergen and 80 percent contained detectable mite allergens.

"Measuring allergens in the home is a critical tool for patient education. When patients are better informed about what is triggering their allergies, we can work with them to optimize control of their disease," said co-author Jay M. Portnoy, M.D., The Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, Mo.

Allergen avoidance is recommended as the first step in asthma management by the expert panel report of the National Health, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)*.

"The high prevalence of samples that contained detectable fungal allergens was a surprising finding of this study," said editorial author Martin D. Chapman, Ph.D., University of Virginia, Charlottesville, and founder of the Indoor Biotechnologies companies. "Previous studies have not found significant differences in allergen exposures for asthma and non-asthma patients. The significance needs to be further validated by identifying the antigens that they detected and establishing their clinical significance."

"Allergists should be the prime source of advice and information on measuring and controlling indoor allergen exposures. This could involve the use of allied health personnel to advise patients on sample collection or even to make home visits, and establishing partnerships with indoor air quality specialists or environmental engineers," he said.

The ACAAI is a professional medical organization comprised of 4,100 qualified allergists-immunologists and related health care professionals. The College is dedicated to the clinical practice of allergy, asthma and immunology through education and research to promote the highest quality of patient care.

* Center for disease control and prevention. Forecasted State-Specific Estimates of Self-Reported Asthma Prevalence United States 1998. MMWR Weekly 1998:47:1022-1025.

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Media Contact: Jo Ann Faber -- (847) 427-1200 or [email protected]. Full-text articles published in Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology are available at no charge online at http://www.annallergy.org until July 1, 2001.

Journal reference:Barnes C, et al. Allergenic materials in the house dust of allergy clinic patients. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2001;86:517-523.