The Effects of an Air Cleaner in the Homes of Children With Perennial Allergic Rhinitis

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Ninety children (age 4–14 years) with perennial allergic rhinitis were surveyed to determine the effect of an air cleaner in their bedroom on their allergic symptoms and on the quality of their lives. All of the children had symptoms for more than 2 years and were sensitive to multiple mold allergens. Multiple medications had not controlled the symptoms effectively. During the 12 months of the study, the children and their parents kept weekly records of the severity of symptoms. Changes in each child's quality of life were assessed through interviews with the mothers. Comparison of these records with those kept before the use of air cleaners indicated marked improvement on many different fronts when the air cleaners were in use. First, the children slept better, behaved better, and tended to be more cheerful. Second, there was significant improvement in allergic symptoms, such as sneezing, scratchy throat, nasal congestion, coughing, wheezing, infection rate of URI, and postnasal drip. Third, in terms of quality of life, there was a reduction in the number of visits to the emergency room or allergy clinic, the number of workdays missed by the parents, and the number of schooldays missed by the child as a result of the child's allergies. Fourth, the parents' expense for allergy medications decreased dramatically. Finally, the children scored somewhat better on rhinometer tests when the air cleaners were in use than when they were not. We speculate that these improvements may have resulted because the air cleaners removed mold from the air. We conclude that monitoring patients closely while they use the air cleaner provides physicians with a valuable opportunity to teach parents and their children with mold allergy about home environmental control.