Abstract
We have found the levels of cat and dog allergen in school dust to be high enough to cause symptoms in sensitized children.
To investigate whether there are differences in cleaning capacity between common vacuum cleaners and chemical treatment of surfaces, we recruited 50 families with allergic children. No family kept pets at home. Ten families had central vacuum cleaning equipment and continued to use it. The others were allocated by random to four groups with 10 families in each group. They used their own vacuum cleaners in combination with tannic acid (T) in a spray, their own vacuum cleaner with placebo (P). a new vacuum cleaner with micro-filter or a new vacuum cleaner with HEPA-filter, i.e. with 99.999 % cleaning effect. Samples were collected from carpets and furniture in the main room and from the child's mattress. A filter with a special device (ALK) attached to a vacuum cleaner was used.
After the first sample was collected on Sunday, week 0. groups T and P applied the liquid to the carpets and upholstered furniture in the main room. The houses were then cleaned for five weeks. Samples were collected after 1, 3 and 5 weeks. Fel dl was determined by a sandwich ELISA method.
Results: Tannic acid reduced the concentration and amount of cat allergen by 50 % after one week. No other changes were noted. The level of Fel dl varied from below the detection limit (16 ng/ml) to 30 μg/g of fine dust.
Conclusions: Introduction of new and better cleaning procedures does not reduce the allergen load in homes of allergic children. This is probably due to the large reservoirs of dust are still present after normal cleaning. The dust is then redistributed all over the house. Alt might also be that allergen is brought to the house by visitors.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Munir, A., Einarsson, R. & Dreborg, S. CHANGE OF CLEANING PROCEDURES DOES NOT DECREASE THE CONCENTRATION AND TOTAL AMOUNT OF Fel dl IN HOMES OF ALLERGIC CHILDREN. Pediatr Res 32, 609 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199211000-00029
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199211000-00029