Dust mites may give asthmatic relief

A tablet made from a protein found in house dust mites could revolutionise the treatment of asthma. The pill is designed to re-tune the immune system so that it does not over-react when it comes into contact with mite droppings, which are a leading trigger for asthma attacks. Early trial results show patients who take the tablet every day are able to substantially reduce their use of inhaled steroids — the drug of choice for keeping asthma attacks at bay. Around 5.2 million people in Britain have asthma. The condition can be fatal, with one person dying as a result of it every seven hours, and leaves more than 70,000 a year needing hospital treatment. House dust mites are a leading cause of wheezing and asthma attacks. London - Gulf news