The Childhood Asthma Prevention Study (CAPS) is the first and only randomised controlled trial of the effectiveness of both house dust mite (HDM) avoidance and modification of dietary intake of fatty acids, both implemented from birth, for the prevention of asthma and other allergic disease during childhood.

The study started in 1997 and recruitment of 616 subjects was completed in January, 2000. The 3 year follow up showed encouraging early results, a small but significant decrease in respiratory symptoms and specific allergic sensitisation.

We are currently following up children in the CAPS cohort at 8 years to examine the longer-term effectiveness of the interventions using skin prick tests, airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) spirometry and genetic studies.