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Impact of Environmental Controls on Childhood Asthma

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Abstract

Exposure to allergens early in life can lead to sensitization and the development of childhood asthma. It is thought that increased exposure with the advent of modern housing is likely contributing to the rise in prevalence of childhood asthma during the past few decades. The progression from allergen exposure to sensitization and asthma development has been noted with respect to dust mites, pets, cockroach, mouse, mold, tobacco smoke, endotoxin, and air pollution, although some have found a protective effect with pet and endotoxin exposure. Recent studies have shown that allergen remediation may be beneficial in reducing asthma morbidity and development, although there is also some evidence to the contrary. Examples of allergen remediation that have been studied include the use of dust mite–impermeable covers, high-efficiency particulate air filtration, integrated pest management, home repairs, ventilation improvement, and pet removal. Several multifaceted, randomized controlled trials have shown that reducing multiple early allergen exposures with environmental controls is associated with a decreased risk of asthma.

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Acknowledgments

Dr. Phipatanakul is funded by National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases R-01 grant (AI-073964) and National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases AsthmaNet 1U10HL098102.

Disclosure

Dr. Phipatanakul has served on boards for the New England Society of Allergy and MedImmune and has received grant support from AstraZeneca.

Dr. Rao reported no potential conflicts of interest relevant to this article.

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  1. Division of Respiratory Diseases, Children’s Hospital Boston, 300 Longwood Avenue, Mailstop 208, Boston, MA, 02215, USA

    Devika Rao

  2. Division of Immunology, Children’s Hospital Boston, Fegan 6, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    Wanda Phipatanakul

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  1. Devika Rao
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Correspondence to Wanda Phipatanakul.

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Rao, D., Phipatanakul, W. Impact of Environmental Controls on Childhood Asthma. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 11, 414–420 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11882-011-0206-7

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