As asthma is the most common chronic disease in childhood, much attention is directed towards primary prevention. Here, the clinical effectiveness of a multifaceted educational prevention was studied.A total of 476 high-risk children were recruited during the prenatal period by general practitioners and randomised to either: 1) a control group, receiving usual care; or 2) an intervention group in which families received instruction from nurses on how to reduce exposure of newborns to mite, pet and food allergens, and passive smoking.A total of 443 infants were followed-up for 2 yrs. At 2 yrs of age, the intervention group (n5222) had less asthma-like symptoms, including wheezing, shortness of breath and night-time cough, than the control group (n5221). No significant differences in total and specific immunoglobulin E were found between the groups. During the first 2 yrs of life, the incidence of asthma-like symptoms was similar in both groups; however, subanalysis revealed a significant reduction in the female, but not in the male, intervention group.In conclusion, the intervention used in this study was not effective in reducing asthma-like symptoms in high-risk children during the first 2 yrs of life, although it was modestly effective at 2 yrs. Follow-up is necessary to confirm whether the intervention can actually prevent the development of asthma.
Data on total IgE and first-degree familial predisposition were available for 170 high-risk and 300 low-risk infants. There was a statistically significant relationship between being at high-risk (maternal asthma) and increased levels of total IgE in newborns (total IgE cut-off levels: 0.6-0.9 IU/mL (odds ratio (OR)=2.1, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.2-3.7 to 3.0, 95% CI: 1.5-5.9)), between being born in autumn and increased levels of total IgE in newborns [total IgE cut-off levels: 0.5-0.6 IU/mL (OR=2.5, 95% CI: 1.2-5.1 to 2.5, 95% CI: 1.2-5.4)] and between maternal vitamin supplements intake and decreased levels of total IgE in newborns (total IgE cut-off level: 0.9 IU/mL (OR=0.5, 95% CI:0.3-1.0)). There was no interaction between the effects of maternal asthma and birth season on total IgE, as well as between the effects of maternal asthma and maternal vitamin supplements intake. Gender, family size, maternal smoking, birth weight, and gestational age did not influence the associations. CONCLUSION; Being at high-risk of asthma (maternal asthma) and birth season are positively associated with the presence of increased levels of total IgE at birth, whereas maternal vitamin supplements intake is negatively associated with the presence of total IgE at birth.
High compliance was found for the use of anti-mite encasings; substantial compliance for using hypoallergenic formula, solid food postponement, keeping pets outside and reported post-natal maternal smoking. There was no compliance for sanitary measures and the reduction of maternal pre-natal passive smoking. Mite and pet allergens on mattresses were strongly reduced by anti-mite encasings.
The Der p1 is unequally distributed on living room floors with smooth coverings, most likely because of displacement of dust from the middle towards the border due to activity. Expression as ng/g of dust and ng/m2 could not obviously be interchangeable.
Achtergrond Aangezien astma de meest voorkomende chronische aandoening is bij kinderen, krijgt primaire preventie van astma veel aandacht. Wij onderzochten de klinische effectiviteit van een niet-medicamenteus preventieprogramma van astma bij kinderen.Methode Huisartsen en verloskundigen rekruteerden aanstaande moeders van babys met een hoog risico op astma door het vo´o´rkomen van astma in het gezin. Zij werden door het lot toegewezen aan een controlegroep die gebruikelijke zorg ontving of aan een interventiegroep die het preventieprogramma kreeg. Verpleegsters instrueerden de ouders op welke wijze zij de blootstelling van hun pasgeborene aan allergenen van de huisstofmijt, huisdieren, voedselallergenen en passief roken het beste konden vermijden.Resultaten Van de 476 kinderen hebben wij 443 kinderen gedurende 2 jaar gevolgd. Aan het einde van het tweede levensjaar had de interventiegroep (n=222) minder astmatische symptomen -piepen en nachtelijk hoesten -dan de controlegroep (n=221) (OR 0,73; 95%-BI 0,56-0,96), kortademigheid (OR 0,76; 95%-BI 0,61-0,96) en nachtelijk hoesten (OR 0,72; 95%-BI 0,55-0,95). Het totale en specifieke IgE was niet verschillend tussen de groepen. De incidentie van astmatische symptomen in de eerst twee levensjaren was gelijk in beide groepen, maar bleek in subgroepanalyse significant verminderd in de meisjesinterventiegroep, maar niet in de jongensinterventiegroep.Conclusie Het preventieprogramma verminderde astmatische klachten in de eerste twee jaar niet, maar wel enigszins aan het einde van het tweede jaar. Follow-up is noodzakelijk om te bevestigen of met het preventieprogramma de ontwikkeling van astma kan worden voorkomen.Wat is bekend? 1. Bij kinderen met een familiaire belasting voor astma is blootstelling aan huisstofmijt-, kat-, hond-en voedselallergenen en aan passief roken gerelateerd aan het ontstaan van astma. 2. Primaire preventie van astma door maar e´e´n van deze allergieprikkels te elimineren heeft echter geen of een gering positief effect.Wat is nieuw? 1. Een voorlichtingsprogramma om baby's uit gezinnen met astma minder bloot te stellen aan allergene en niet-allergene prikkels met als doel
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