Thirty families of atopic infants (group A) were instructed to decrease HDMs by controlling the indoor environment, including bedding cleaning, whereas 27 families receiving the same instructions (group B) were further guided to use the Allerguard encasing for quilts and mattresses of all family members. Methods: Fifty-seven Japanese infants with atopic dermatitis who had high levels of IgE antibodies against either egg white, cow's milk, or soybean (but not against HDMs) were randomly chosen and divided into two groups. Objective: We investigated whether mite-blocking bedding encasing made from microfine fibers can prevent infants from being sensitized to HDMs. However, the method for preventing mite sensitization by reducing the levels of house dust mites (HDMs) is not well established. Background: The indoor levels of mite allergens are known to determine the thresholds of sensitization and asthma exacerbation.
