Asthma is a respiratory disease often caused by allergies, with symptoms including coughing, difficulty in breathing, and a tight feeling in the chest. Asthma in children is often triggered by an allergy to mold. Now research reports that ultraviolet (UV) irradiation units in the homes of asthmatic children allergic to mold helped their asthma symptoms. Previous studies have suggested that UV light may eliminate microbes that can trigger asthma in an office environment.
The study, published in the Journal of Asthma, investigated the potential health benefits of home central ventilation UV units on mold-sensitized asthmatic children. Researchers at the University of Cincinnati in Ohio, analyzed data from 19 mold-sensitized asthmatic children, 5 to 17 years of age, participating in a 28-week crossover trial. The participants either had UV irradiation units or dummy units (control group) installed in their homes. The researchers examined the participants' morning and evening peak expiratory flow rates, asthma symptom scores, and medication use. The participants' home environmental outcomes were measured including changes in temperature, relative humidity, dew point, and indoor airborne mold and bacterial counts.
The researchers found that the children with the UV irradiation units had a significant improvement in their asthma symptoms and the number of days with asthma symptoms. Furthermore, the children with the UV irradiation units had a 51 percent reduction in their asthma medication usage, compared to the placebo group.
"Central UV irradiation was effective at reducing airway hyperresponsiveness manifested as PEFR variability and some clinical symptoms," the study authors write. "A larger cohort controlled longitudinal study to validate the clinical health effects of UV irradiation as a primary indoor environmental intervention for allergic asthma is necessary to confirm this finding."
REFERENCES:
1. Bernstein JA et al. Health effects of ultraviolet irradiation in asthmatic children's homes. J Asthma 2006 May;43(4):255-62.
Posted by Elaine Gavalas on September 25, 2006 01:46 PM
