Influence of month of birth on house dust mite allergy

We determined the birth month of a sample of 208 patients with bronchial asthma or rhinitis and positive skin test to house dust mite. The majority of patients were born in the summer and autumn months. The increased incidence of house dust mite allergy in patients born in the months of July to September, when house dust mites are most abundant, corresponds to a relative risk of 1.43. It is important that exposure to house dust mites in early childhood is kept to a minimum as exposure to allergens may influence the development of allergic disease in later life.