A.Three works are here reported as performed on mite’s allergic patients at the Allergy Centre of Merate Hospital - Italy. These studies have been published at the European Congress of Allergology and Clinical Immunology.

The attached documentation is concerning the tests performed by Prof. L. Suss and Prof. G. Lozzia at the University of Milan – Italy.

Briefly the aim and the conclusions of the works:

trial #1: "Ultrasonic waves as an environmental protection measure against house dust mites”.

Aim: evaluation of electronic device's effectiveness in reducing both symptoms and drugs’ use.

Patients: 20 patients using the electronic device for a 3 months period + 20 patients as control group.

Results: a 28% decrease in days with symptoms and a 22% decrease in drugs’ intake, in the group of patients who used the electronic device.

Conclusions: the Authors explain the results, thanks to a possible action on mite’s fecal pellet that is rich in allergens.

trial #2: "A comparison between 2 means of environmental protection against mites: mattress cover vs. ultrasonic wave emitter”.

Aim:comparison of electronic device's vs. cover mattress’ effectiveness in reducing both symptoms and drugs’ use.

Patients: 15 patients using the electronic device for a 6 months period + 15 patients using a cover mattress + 15 patients as control group.

Results: same decrease in days with symptoms (16%) in the group with the electronic device and in the group with the cover mattress, compared to the control group.
The decrease in drugs’ consumption was also similar (about 10% compared to the control).

Conclusions: Both the cover mattress and the electronic device show their validity in reducing symptoms and drugs.

trial #3:"A comparison between an ultrasonic wave emitter and a chemical acaricide in implementing environmental protection against mites”.

Aim: comparison of electronic device’s vs. acaricide’s effectiveness in reducing both symptoms-drugs and mites’ presence in houses.

Patients: 16 patients using the electronic device for a 5 months period + 16 patients using an acaricide + 16 patients as control group.

Results: similar decrease in days with symptoms (about 19%) in the group with the electronic device and in the group with the acaricide, compared to the control group.
The decrease in drugs’ use was also similar (about 10% compared to the control).
About a 20% reduction in presence of mites inside patients’ homes was observed, in the group using the electronic device or the acaricide, compared to the control group.

Conclusions: Both the acaricide and the electronic device show their validity in reducing symptoms and drugs. Both the methods are able to control mites’ presence in houses.

EAACI BRUXELLES 1999

ULTRASONIC WAVES AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION MEASURE AGAINST DUST MITES.

G. BRIVIO;M.A. BOSCOLO

DEPT. OF ALLERGOLOGY- “S.L MANDIC” HOSPITAL- MERATE ( LECCO)- ITALY

Introduction

House dust mites are one of the major causes of allergy disorders. Numerous studies confirm that a reduction in the concentration of mites in the domestic environment produces an appreciable improvement in the symptoms of allergy sufferers. It follows that action, using the right methods, must be taken to secure such a reduction, especially in places where allergy sufferers spend prolonged periods of time.

Aim Of The Study

The aim of this study was to assess whether a device producing ultrasonic waves could bring about a reduction in the quantity of mites in the environment and, therefore, an abatement in the rhinithis and asthma symptoms suffered by patients allergic to dust mites.

Materials And Methods

The investigation concerned 40 patients who were allergic to Der.pter. and Der far. and reacted with symptoms of rhinitis and/or asthma. No patient was currently undergoing SIT (Specific Immunotherapy) or had ever been so treated. Of the patients, 20 received a 40.000- Hz ultrasonic wave emitter. This device was sited in the patients bedrooms for a 3 month period (October – December) and during this period it emitted ultrasonic waves uninterruptedly.

No kind of environmental protection was prescribed for the other 20 patients (the control group).

All the patients made notes daily of any allergy symptoms they experienced (dyspnoea, coughing, rhinorrhoea ) and their use of anti-allergy and/or anti-asthma medication.

Discussion

The effect of the ultrasonic waves on the dust mites is not entirely clear. It is scarcely plausible that the ultrasonic waves acted directly and immediately on the mites exerting, as it were, an action in the nature of a “disturbance”.

It could be hypothesised that the waves acted on the dust mites reproductive cycle or, alternatively or concurrently, on their faecal matter, deactivating it and transforming it into allergenically inert matter.

Conclusions

After 3 months the group of patients that had protected their environment with Ultrasonic Waves showed less allergy symptoms than the Control Group.

At the same time the group that had used the ultrasonic waves had had less recourse to medication.