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Effect of pest management on asthma symptoms
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Effect of pest management on asthma symptoms median of 2 days in the education plus IPM group (baseline 2·5 days), compared with 2·7 days in the education-only group (baseline 0 days). No significant differences were found in secondary asthma outcomes, including short-acting β agonist use, health care use, and lung function. However, the authors point out that the absence of between-group differences could be because the average reduction in mouse allergens on bedroom floors in the educationonly group was similar to that in the IPM group. Asthma symptoms were thus reduced by similar degrees in both groups. “This suggests that mouse allergen exposure drives asthma morbidity and that education about pest/mouse management alone may be helpful for children with asthma who are allergic to mice and live in neighbourhoods where mouse infestation is common”, says Matsui. “Although the results of this study are perhaps surprising, there are many reasons that could account for this”, says Erika Kennington, Head of Research at Asthma UK (London, UK). Both participant groups in the
study were educated about ways to reduce mouse allergens. For a person with asthma, knowing what their triggers are and how to avoid them makes a huge difference. “The more people with asthma that understand their condition, the better they can manage it. By managing their asthma well, people can reduce both the symptoms they experience and their risk of having a life-threatening asthma attack”, Kennington concluded.
Lancet Respir Med 2017 Published Online March 24, 2017 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/ S2213-2600(17)30115-7
Tony Kirby
www.thelancet.com/respiratory Published online March 24, 2017 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S2213-2600(17)30115-7
Patrick Landmann/Science Photo Library
New research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association indicates that education plus pest management to prevent entry of rodents into homes is no better than education alone in terms of improving young people’s asthma symptoms. The study, done by Elizabeth Matsui (Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, USA) and colleagues, randomly allocated 361 young people (aged 5–17 years) who were sensitive to mouse allergens and exposed to mice in their homes to receive either education about pest control only (n=180) or education plus an integrated pest management (IPM) system in their homes (n=181). The IPM consisted of sealing holes that could serve as entry points for mice, placing traps, targeted cleaning, allergen-proof mattresses and pillow cases, and portable air purifiers. 334 children were included in the final analysis, and no statistically significant difference was seen in maximum symptom days (max number of days during which symptoms occurred in the preceding 2 weeks) between groups over 6, 9, and 12 months (p=0·16), with a
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Effect of pest management on asthma symptoms median of 2 days in the education plus IPM group (baseline 2·5 days), compared with 2·7 days in the education-only group (baseline 0 days). No significant differences were found in secondary asthma outcomes, including short-acting β agonist use, health care use, and lung function. However, the authors point out that the absence of between-group differences could be because the average reduction in mouse allergens on bedroom floors in the educationonly group was similar to that in the IPM group. Asthma symptoms were thus reduced by similar degrees in both groups. “This suggests that mouse allergen exposure drives asthma morbidity and that education about pest/mouse management alone may be helpful for children with asthma who are allergic to mice and live in neighbourhoods where mouse infestation is common”, says Matsui. “Although the results of this study are perhaps surprising, there are many reasons that could account for this”, says Erika Kennington, Head of Research at Asthma UK (London, UK). Both participant groups in the
study were educated about ways to reduce mouse allergens. For a person with asthma, knowing what their triggers are and how to avoid them makes a huge difference. “The more people with asthma that understand their condition, the better they can manage it. By managing their asthma well, people can reduce both the symptoms they experience and their risk of having a life-threatening asthma attack”, Kennington concluded.
Lancet Respir Med 2017 Published Online March 24, 2017 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/ S2213-2600(17)30115-7
Tony Kirby
www.thelancet.com/respiratory Published online March 24, 2017 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S2213-2600(17)30115-7
Patrick Landmann/Science Photo Library
New research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association indicates that education plus pest management to prevent entry of rodents into homes is no better than education alone in terms of improving young people’s asthma symptoms. The study, done by Elizabeth Matsui (Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, USA) and colleagues, randomly allocated 361 young people (aged 5–17 years) who were sensitive to mouse allergens and exposed to mice in their homes to receive either education about pest control only (n=180) or education plus an integrated pest management (IPM) system in their homes (n=181). The IPM consisted of sealing holes that could serve as entry points for mice, placing traps, targeted cleaning, allergen-proof mattresses and pillow cases, and portable air purifiers. 334 children were included in the final analysis, and no statistically significant difference was seen in maximum symptom days (max number of days during which symptoms occurred in the preceding 2 weeks) between groups over 6, 9, and 12 months (p=0·16), with a
1