Prevention of Postinfectious Asthma in Children by Reducing Self-Inoculatory Behavior

Recent studies have shown that the spread of infectious nasal secretions from hand-to-hand or hand-to-object, followed by self-inoculation is an efficient means of viral transmission. The present study was designed to investigate whether self-inoculation behavior in asthmatic children could be reduced and, if so, whether this reduction would reduce the frequency of infection and asthma. Sixteen subjects aged 4 to 8, all diagnosed with postinfectious asthma, were assigned to a treatment (differential reinforcement of other behavior and contingent education) or placebo control condition. Results indicate that self-inoculatory behavior, infection, and asthma were signjficantly reduced. These findings may indicate an important role for behavioral medicine inpostinfectious asthma.