Dermatophagoides in childhood asthma. Allergy to dermatophagoides associates more severe childhood asthma with a potential role for acaricides.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate hypersensitivity to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (D. pteronyssinus) and Dermatophagoides farinae (D. farinae) in pediatric patients with asthma, and the use of acaricides. METHODS This is a randomized controlled trial in 82 asthmatic children. They were recruited and evaluated for severity and chronicity according to the Global Initiative for Asthma Guidelines. The study was carried out in the Pediatric Allergy Clinic, Al Noor Hospital, Khalifa Branch, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates between September 2008 and June 2010. Skin prick test (SPT) was performed including D. pteronyssinus and D. farinae, and for those who were sensitive to one, or the other. The therapeutic value of acaricides was evaluated by assessing the severity of asthma before and after their use. RESULTS Approximately 81.7% of asthmatics were sensitive to house dust mites (HDM). Hypersensitivity was associated with the more severe and persistent asthma (p=0.029). The manifested severity of asthma was not HDM species-specific. There was a linear association between response of children to acaricides and increasing severity of asthma. CONCLUSION Hypersensitivity to HDM is an important factor for persistent and severe forms of asthma. Acaricides can help control childhood asthma, and we recommend SPT as part of the routine work-up of patients with asthma to determine HDM sensitive patients that can benefit from acaricides use.