SHEEPSKINS AND BEDDING IN CHILDHOOD, AND THE RISK OF DEVELOPMENT OF BRONCHIAL-ASTHMA

Background: Sheepskin bedding might increase house dust mite exposure and so explain some of the increasing prevalence or severity of childh ood asthma. Methods: Relationships between use of different types of b edding, and diagnoses of asthma, symptoms of wheezing, skin prick test evidence of house dust mite sensitivity, and airway responsiveness to methacholine, were examined retrospectively in a birth cohort of chil dren followed longitudinally to age 15 years. Results: In the whole co hort, no associations were identified to suggest a causal relationship between use of any type of bedding and development of features of ast hma. Although not an a priori hypothesis, we noted that among children with a family history of atopic disease, those who were house dust mi te sensitive were more likely to have used an innerspring mattress (29 .6% vs 10.2% who had not used an innerspring mattress, p=0.005). Concl usion: In this subgroup, increased airway responsiveness and mite sens itivity were significantly associated with use of innerspring mattress es, although whether this is a causal or secondary association is not certain. Use of a sheepskin in the bed in early childhood was not an a dditional risk factor for the development of asthma.