The use of centrally installed ultraviolet (UV) irradiation units in the homes of asthmatic children who are sensitized to mold can improve their symptoms, according to a new report.
The idea is that UV light kills off circulating microbial agents that can trigger asthma.
The study is one of only a few to look at the health benefits of UV air disinfection systems, Dr. Jonathan A. Bernstein, from the University of Cincinnati in Ohio, and colleagues note in the May issue of the Journal of Asthma. Also, many of the previous studies have focused on the use of these systems in an office environment, not at home.
In a 28-week 'crossover' trial, the researchers assessed respiratory symptoms in 19 children with asthma first while UV irradiation units were running in the home central ventilation system and then when dummy units were installed, or vice versa.
UV irradiation was delivered by the CREON2000 Photonic Air Disinfection system, which can operate continuously due to the presence of a pre-filter system that prevents dust from accumulating on the UV lamps.
Compared with the placebo situation, the use of the UV irradiation system was associated with a significant improvement in the children's peak expiratory flow rate, the report indicates.
In addition, the system seemed to improve asthma symptoms and reduce asthma medication usage by 51 percent, compared to 13 percent with placebo.
A larger study "to validate the clinical health effects of UV irradiation as a primary indoor environmental intervention for allergic asthma" is necessary to confirm the present findings, the researchers conclude.
SOURCE: Journal of Asthma, May 2006.
据报道，在对霉菌过敏而患有哮喘的儿童家中安装中央紫外辐照设备可以改善其哮喘症状。其思路是紫外光能够杀灭可以导致哮喘的空气中浮游微生物。
俄亥俄州辛辛那提大学的Jonathan A. Bernstein博士等在五月份的《哮喘杂志》上指出，该研究只是众多探索紫外空气消毒系统对健康的有益作用的研究之一，然而，许多先前研究都是集中于在办公环境中使用这些系统，而不是在居民家中。
在为期28周的“交换”试验中，研究者考查了19个哮喘患儿的呼吸系统症状：开始时，家用中央通风系统的紫外辐照系统工作，随后去除紫外辐照系统作为空白对照。
紫外辐照由CREON2000光子空气消毒系统提供，由于存在预防灰尘在紫外灯上沉积的预过滤系统，该系统可以连续运行。
报道指出，与空白对照相比，紫外辐照系统的使用与（患哮喘）孩子的最大呼气流速的明显改善存在相关性。
此外，该（辐照）系统似乎可以改善哮喘症状，并可以减少51％的哮喘治疗（药品用量），而空白对照组只能达到13％。
研究者总结认为，有必要进行更大规模的研究，以验证紫外线辐照作为过敏性哮喘症的基本室内环境干预措施对健康的临床效应。
源自：哮喘杂志，2006年5月号，Journal of Asthma，May 2006
编辑：西门吹血
