Seasons Variation of House Dust Mites Allergen and Perceived Allergic Symptoms

Abstract

The purpose of this study were to identify seasons variation of house dust mites allergen and perceived allergic symptom. The subjects were consisted of 29 family with allergy patients and 34 family without allergy patients. Perceived allergic symptoms were accessed and house dust was sampled from beds, floor of bedroom, kitchen and livingroom in spring (August), summer (July), fall (October) and winter (January) and tested using two-site ELISA.

The results were as follows;

1) In all family, amount of house dust mites allergen (Der fI) of livingroom floor was the highest in summer (4.73 ㎍/1g of dust), and then fall (4.67 ㎍/1g of dust), winter (3.94㎍/1g of dust), spring (1.73 ㎍/1g dust).

2) In family with allergy patients, amount of house dust mites allergen (Der fI) of bedroom floor was highest in fall (9.75 ㎍/1g of dust).

3) In family with allergy patients, amount of house dust mites allergen (Der fI) of mattress was highest in fall (8.23 ㎍/1g of dust).

4) Perceived allergic symptom scores of family with allergy patients were higher than family without allergy patients in all seasons. In family without allergy patients, perceived allergic symptom scores was the highest in spring (4.29) and perceived allergic symptom scores of family with patients was the highest in winter (2.49).

5) The relationship of house dust mites allergen and perceived allergic symptom scores were positively related (gamma=.941, p=.000).

Perceived allergic symptoms were correlated with amount of house dust mites allergen. That is, perceived allergic symptoms were became worse by house dust mites allergen.

So house dust mites allergen reducing strategies and intervention should be recommended in further study.