Allergy: altitude, a beneficial effect on asthma mites

Stay aloft appears to improve asthma control and reduce consumption of corticosteroids in children and adolescents with severe allergic asthma due to mites, according to a small French study

Allergic asthma can be influenced by environmental factors such as allergens, infectious agents or contaminants in the air, but also the type of habitat, exposure, quality of ventilation and heating, the researchers said in the abstract of their paper.

Climatic factors are also involved, whether the moisture in the air, the temperature, the number of sunny days or barometric pressure, which have an impact on the development of allergen.

Dr. Hassan Razzouk European Medical Center bioclimatic research and university education (Cembreu) to Villard-Saint-Pancras (Hautes-Alpes) and his colleagues at the Centre of pneumo-allergy Les Acacias, as well as two children's homes sanitary and social (MECSS) Briancon, conducted a study to assess the effect of climate altitude living in 40 children and adolescents (6-16 years) with severe allergic asthma due to mites.

The authors note that Briançon (climate station assigned), the mites rate is significantly lower than Martigues (Bouches-du-Rhône), for example, with 0.35 mg per gram of dust, against 17 8 mg / g. The concentration of spores of various fungi is also lower compared to Brussels and Nice.

The pollen season lasts only two months, June and July, with lower concentrations compared to Marseille and Gap. Finally, the chemical pollution is negligible, including a rate of sulfur dioxide from 10 ppb to 1,000 ppb against Paris or London 1400 ppb.

Three months after the arrival of children, it is an improvement of asthma, 90% of the days are spent with well-controlled, against 20% before symptoms stay.

Consumption of inhaled corticosteroids is also significantly reduced to three months and the quality of life improved significantly, the researchers add.

Laboratory data indicate that the total IgE levels decreased in three, six and nine months, down to the specific IgE to mites was even faster, they say.

Bronchial hyperresponsiveness has also decreased, with a mean dose of methacholine required to reduce the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV) 20% of 129 g at the beginning of the stay, against 600 g for three months.

Finally, the oxide (NO) in exhaled air, a marker of airway inflammation was significantly reduced, with an average concentration of 68.6 ppb at the finish, against 61.3 ppb after three months.

These results suggest that climate stay high in special homes for children with asthma is useful in reducing symptoms and medication use, the researchers conclude.