JAPAN ALLERGY CONFERENCE –
STUDY THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SILENTAIR AIR PURIFIER

The number of people suffering from asthma and rhinitis, common symptoms of allergy patients which symptoms are caused by house dust, increases each year. It is estimated that as many as one in three people in Japan are now suffering from some type of allergy.

At the "Japan Allergy Society's 7th Annual Spring Clinical Conference", the Kamiamakusa General Hospital Asthma Center headed by Dr. Toyoharu Okazaki and known for its highly effective asthma program, made a presentation on the clinical effects of using the SilentAir Air Purifier. It was established that SilentAir is effective in the reduction of airborne dust particles and there was a reduction in points, which are used to measure asthma attacks in pediatric asthma patients.

The Kamiamakusa General Hospital Asthma Center, putting to good use the clean air and ocean environment of Amakusa, have become the forerunners in "ocean therapy". The hospital was established in 1964 as a 70 bed facility and built by the Town of Ryugadake, but as early as the following summer the first asthma program was being held.

With over 60 asthma programs completed, the center has effectively become the school for pediatric asthma patients. The aim is to achieve recovery through utilizing the natural environment and maintaining a regular lifestyle, including the elements of exercise, meals and parentectomy (a parent separation technique).

When there is a need for long-term treatment, due to the severity of the condition, the patient enters the asthma clinic on a long-term basis. After transferring to the nearby school, the patient commutes to that school from the center. Presently, at any one time there are approximately 60 children on long-term hospital stay.

Children residing in the asthma clinic participate in various outdoor sports, depending on the seasons. Long-distance swimming, mountain climbing, athletics, camping and fishing are all part of the outdoor program that allows patients to regain their health while enjoying the rich, natural environment. Supporting this method of treatment is a qualified group of doctors and capable staff such as pediatricians, allergy specialists, nurses, case-workers, childcare specialists, clinical psychologists, and counselors. These dedicated professionals comprise a team of hard working individuals who help the children recover their health.

The following is an outline of the data collected at the Japan Allergy Society's 7th Annual Spring clinical Conference, May 25, 1995.
   
   
Presenters Yuji Mizumoto Keiko Yokoyama
Kazuyuki Noda
Toyoharu Okazaki
   
   
Purpose In treating allergy related disorders such as bronchial asthma, it is crucial to maintain an environment in which the elimination of allergens is of prime importance. In this case, we used the SilentAir Air Purifier to reduce airborne dust particles in the rooms and found the air purifier to be effective.
   
   
Subject and Method In December, 1993, we placed a SilentAir Air Purifier in the bedrooms and living rooms of houses belonging to 52 pediatric patients aged 7 to 15 (36 boys and 16 girls) who were residents of the Kamiamakusa General Hospital Asthma Center as a result of bronchial asthma. Counts of airborne dust particles and dust mites, in bedding and on floors, were taken before and after installation, and comparisons were made. Also, asthma attack points and treatment points during out-of-hospital periods were compared. Keeping in mind that symptoms fluctuate according to the season, data from experimental stays outside of the hospital taken a year before were used for the comparison.

Furthermore, we used the results of a survey conducted concurrently with the experiment to indicate any changes in the symptoms of allergic rhinitis and allergic conjunctivitis.

During the experiment, the SilentAir Air Purifier was operating continuously and environmental maintenance such as housecleaning and airing out mattresses was carried out as usual.
   
   
Results Testing for airborne dust particles was conducted in two homes, both before and after the SilentAir Air Purifier was installed, with a three-month period in between. (Dust particle measurements were taken with a Shibata PCD-1)

The measurement of 0.035mg/m3, taken before installation, compared to the later measurement of 0.010 mg/m3 indicated a significant decrease in dust particles after installation.

Comparisons were made of the symptoms that 21 pediatric patients had, who had been in the hospital for over one year and who were sent home on an experimental basis (total of 24 visits).

The daily average asthma attack points of 2.66 before installation of the SilentAir Air Purifier was reduced to 0.87 after installation.

With the Wikoxon coded order verification at P<0.01, this means there was a significant difference.

There was one case where an increase of points was seen, however, in this case the symptoms were compounded by an infection of the breathing passageway.

Similarly, the number of treatment points per day was measured at 5.29 points prior to installation and 2.93 after installation. Also in this case, a significant difference of P<0.01 was recorded.

In addition, according to the survey, in 5 out of 10 cases where symptoms were compounded by allergic rhinitis and in 2 out of 5 cases of allergic conjunctivitis, a reduction in the severity of the symptoms was noticed.
   
   
Conclusions A significant reduction in both the attack points and treatment points for bronchial asthma was experienced with the use of the SilentAir Air Purifier in homes of pediatric allergy patients.

A trend in the reduction of symptoms associated with allergic rhinitis and allergic conjunctivitis was also observed.

It can, therefore, be concluded that the SilentAir Air Purifier suppresses or reduces the manifestation of allergic symptoms, through the reduction of airborne allergens such as dust, dirt or dust mites in the patient's home.
   
   
With respect to the attack points and treatment points for asthma, we have used the system developed by the Japan Allergy Society for asthmatic adults with some adjustments made for use with pediatric patients. In this method, points are given depending on the size of the attack (large attack = 9 points; medium attack = 6 points, etc.) and changes in the symptoms are confirmed by changes in the daily total points, i.e., the smaller the number of total points, the fewer the symptoms.

The difference between filtering air and purifying it.