Dust 'may stop asthma'

House dust, thought to be a trigger for asthma, may actually help to prevent it - provided it is of the right kind.

House dust, thought to be a trigger for asthma, may actually help to prevent it - provided it is of the right kind.

Scientists who studied 61 infants aged nine months to two years who had had episodes of wheezing, an early indicator of asthma, found that those with allergies had a different kind of dust in their homes.

Ten of the children tested showed sensitivity to common allergens which are known triggers for asthma. The dust in the homes of the sensitive children was found to contain lower levels of endotoxins, chemicals released by bacteria when they break down. Endotoxins are found in the soil and in the faeces of animals, including household pets. The research, published in The Lancet, suggests that exposure to endotoxins early in life may help the development of the immune system and prevent allergies, including asthma, in later life.