Home Allergen Levels
Linked to Asthma
A new national survey found that elevated allergen levels in
the home are associated with asthma symptoms in allergic individuals,
suggesting that individuals with asthma and allergies
may get symptom relief by reducing allergen exposure inside
their home.
For the study, the researchers used data from the National
Survey of Lead and Allergens in Housing to analyze factors that
contribute to high allergen levels in homes and to determine
whether higher household allergen levels were linked with occupants’
asthma status. The group surveyed the homes of nearly
2500 individuals in 75 locations. The findings showed that exposure
to multiple indoor allergens was common in US households,
with 52% having at least 6 detectable allergens and 46%
having 3 or more allergens at increased levels. Race, income,
type of home, and sources of allergens also added to the
increased concentration of allergens. The study indicated that
homes with children were less likely to have high allergen levels.
The findings were published in the March 2008 issue of the
Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology.
Obesity Impacts
Asthma Symptoms
Obese individuals tend to experience more severe asthma
symptoms, compared with their normal-weight counterparts.
The researchers suggest that the extra pounds exacerbate the
condition.
Studies have shown that obese individuals face greater odds
of developing asthma, but whether weight affects asthma severity
has been unclear. The current study included 3095 adults who
were questioned about their asthma symptoms over the previous
5 years. Of the participants, one third were obese. The
researchers found obese patients were 66% more prone to
report experiencing continuous symptoms over the past month,
and 42% were more apt to have symptoms consistent with
severe, persistent asthma, compared with normal-weight adults.
The patients with both obesity and asthma also needed more
medication and missed more workdays, according to findings
recently published in Thorax.
The data connecting obesity and asthma severity are strong
enough to have a bearing on asthma management, concluded
the researchers.
Oral Meds May Replace Allergy Shots
In the future, oral allergy immunotherapy, instead of injections,
may be used to treat children with allergic asthma,
according to a study published in Chest (March 2008).
Commonly known as allergy shots in the United States,
allergy immunotherapy works in a manner similar to vaccines.
Whereas this therapy can be effective, it is currently
only available via injections in this country, and usually
results in at least 1 to 2 shots a week for 3 to 6 months. The
FDA has not approved these oral medications, but the treatment
is available in Europe.
Researchers reviewed 9 studies that examined the use of
sublingual (oral) immunotherapy (SLIT) in children with asthma.
A total of 441 children aged 3 to 18 who had been diagnosed
with allergic asthma were included in the 12-month
studies. Of the participants, 232 children received oral
immunotherapy, and 209 received a placebo. The dosing
schedule varied depending on the study and whether
droplets or tablets were used. During the maintenance
phase of immunotherapy, droplets or tablets were given 3
times a week.
The findings indicate that the children taking SLIT had considerably
fewer symptoms and needed less asthma medication.
Because not enough of the studies included measurement
of lung function, the current study was unable to assess
whether SLIT affects lung function significantly. Furthermore,
SLIT appeared to be better, compared with allergy shots.
Daily Asthma Meds Keep Lungs Going
During Exercise
A study of 100 children with exercise-induced bronchoconstriction
found that taking asthma medication daily can help
prevent tightening of the airways with physical exertion that
affects many children with asthma, according to a study reported
in the February 2008 issue of the Journal of Allergy & Clinical
Immunology.
For the study, researchers compared the effectiveness of 4
daily treatment approaches by administering 1 of the treatments
or placebo for 4 weeks to the children. The treatment
options included budesonide and formoterol; budesonide and
montelukast; montelukast alone; and budesonide alone. All the
children had a treadmill test before and after treatment.
The findings showed that all the children who received active
asthma treatment had a significant reduction in exerciseinduced
bronchoconstriction, but the greatest improvements
were in the montelukast-only and montelukast-plus-budesonide
groups. The researchers concluded, "It can be argued that
adding montelukast should be recommended to achieve better
control of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction in children with
asthma."
F A S T F A C T : Allergic disease is the fifth leading chronic disease in the United States among all ages.
