Welcome to the First Issue of the ASA Newsletter

FROM THE EDITORS
Welcome to the official first issue of the ASA Newsletter, which has been in the works for several months. This newsletter explores the most recent news, research, and articles as they relate to allergies, asthma, and sinusitis. Whether you suffer from one, two, or all three of these conditions, we hope that you'll find this free resource of information of major benefit in your battle to overcome the suffering. And in this battle, you are not alone.

Chronic Sinusitis Cause May Lie in Mucus, Not Tissue
Until now, standard sinusitis and sinus infection treatment has targeted the nasal and sinus tissue, but recently, Mayo Clinic researchers have found that the cause of chronic sinus infections lies in the nasal mucus rather than the sinus tissue. The findings will be published in the August issue of Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology...
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Asthma or Allergies May Reduce the Risk of Brain Cancer
Having asthma, hay fever or another allergic condition may reduce the risk of developing one fatal form of brain cancer, a new study suggests. The scientists say that new evidence for this relationship is found in the normal variation of two genes...
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Milestone in Antifungal Treatment for Severe Asthma
University of Manchester researchers recently announced that they have reached a key milestone in their study of the antifungal treatment of asthma. It is hoped that the study, by clinical researchers based at Manchester's Wythenshawe Hospital, will reduce the need for steroid use as an asthma treatment and also cut down on serious asthma attacks requiring hospital intervention. The study may also help provide treatment information to those suffering from cystic fibrosis and chronic sinusitis...
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Sesame Allergy is Significant, Serious, and Growing
Sesame allergy is a significant and serious problem found to be growing globally... Sesame has been added to the list of major food allergens for use in food labeling in European Commission (EC) and Canada, but it is not yet included in the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) listing of allergenic foods for labeling purposes in the United States...
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Increased Asthma Risk for Mexican American Children
Mexican American children born in the United States have an increased risk of asthma compared to children born in Mexico, according to a study featured in the July 2005 Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology... Children born in the United States were significantly more likely to report asthma diagnosis and wheezing than those born in Mexico...
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FEATURE - Day Care is a Significant Source of Indoor Allergens
Researchers studying day care facilities in the South have found the facilities to be a significant source for indoor allergen levels. A new study of 89 day care settings in two central North Carolina counties found detectable levels of seven common allergens from fungus, cats, cockroaches, dogs, dust mites, and mice in each facility tested. The levels were similar to those found in Southern homes.

“Because children spend a significant portion of time in day care settings, it is important that parents understand the risks of allergen exposure and know where these allergens can be found,” said David A. Schwartz, M.D., the new Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), the part of the National Institutes of Health that supported the study.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 63 percent of children under five spend 37 hours per week in child care. Exposure to indoor allergens has been shown in previous studies to increase the likelihood of developing asthma or allergic diseases, especially in vulnerable children.

Both licensed family day care homes and child care centers are represented in the study. The researchers used a three-pronged data collection approach to evaluate allergens in each care facility, including administering a questionnaire to each manager, observing the room where the children spent most of their time, and collecting dust samples from that room.

Dust was collected from up to four, one square meter areas of floor on both carpet and hard surfaces. Twenty facilities had dust collected from both surfaces.

Detectable levels of each allergen were found in every facility where dust samples were collected. Concentrations were the highest for allergens from cats, dogs, and a fungus known as Alternaria.

“Interestingly, similar to other studies, dog and cat allergens were detected in nearly all the facilities tested, although no dog or cat was observed in most,” said, Samuel Arbes, Ph.D., a NIEHS researcher and lead author on the study. “It is likely the pet allergens are brought in on the children’s clothing.”

The study also found significant differences between carpeted and non-carpeted surfaces. Concentrations for five of the allergens were lower on the non-carpeted surfaces.

The researchers compared the day care allergen levels to concentrations found in Southern homes collected previously as part of the National Survey of Lead and Allergens in Housing (NSLAH). The NSLAH collected samples from 831 homes representing various regions and settings across the country. Five of the seven allergen levels were statistically similar with only one of two dust mite allergens and mouse allergen being slightly higher in the NSLAH.

“The similarities in allergen levels between the day care centers and Southern home living rooms means children and the day care workers may be getting prolonged exposure to allergens,” said Dr. Arbes. “More research needs to be conducted to determine the effects of allergen exposures outside of the home.”

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