USE OF AN AIR CLEANER FOR ASTHMA CHILDREN AT HOME

The efficacy of use an air cleaner at home was evaluated in 17 children with moderate or severe bronchial asthma aged between 5 and 13 years treated in the Department of Allergy of the National Children's Hospital. The patients were divided into two groups: 12 who used an air cleaner (Bellflow Super Supplied by Dai-ichi Seiyaku Co., Ltd.) with a filter and 5 who used the air cleaner with no filter. Changes in clinical symptoms and respiratory function were evaluated in the morning, daytime and night during the pre-treatment control period, treatment period and post-treatment control period. Significant improvement was observed in dyspnea, sputum, runny nose and sleep disorders in patients who used the filter (p<0.05). Asthma symptoms were also significantly improved in the night (p<0.05). In contrast, no significant improvement was observed in the patients who used no filter. Respiratory function remained virtually unchanged in both groups.From these findings, it can be concluded that the air cleaner with a filter is useful in improving symptoms of bronchial asthma in children.