If you are the parent of an asthmatic child, you may want to consider buying your child a mite-proof bed cover, according to a study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Magazine. These special bed covers form a barrier to common household dust mites, which are among the most common asthma triggers in children.

Researchers from the University of Manchester in England analyzed data from 284 asthmatic children aged 3-17 who were also allergic to dust mites. After placing either a dust mite cover or a placebo cover on their mattresses, duvets and pillows, the children were followed for one year. Results showed that the children with the mite-proof covers were 45 percent less likely than those with the placebo covers to have asthma flare-ups so severe that they had to be taken to an emergency room.

The special covers, however, did not significantly reduce the number of children who had less-serious flare-ups. This led the researchers to conclude that while the mite-proof bed covers did not fully prevent the asthma flare-ups, they did greatly reduce their severity.

The scientists hope these results will lead to more research on whether these bed covers, which typically cost around $200, can help reduce the terrifying asthma flare-ups in children.

They noted that viral infections, especially those that cause the common cold, are also major risk factors for asthma flare-ups in children. While there is no way to prevent children from catching a cold, they say avoiding allergens through the use of special bedcovers could be a promising and cost-effective method of protection.