dust mite allergy anyone?

[anney]

Just got the blood test back to say DD has a dust mite allergy. I tried to de-dust mite the house back in February but it did not make much difference. I have bought dust mite proof mattress and pillow protectors and washed everything in hot water. I have a sneaking suspicion it actually might be the classroom that is contributing to it as she was sniffle free while we were home over the January holidays but sniffing again within one week of being back at school.
Going to wash all bedding in hot water again now that the holidays are here but not sure what else I should do but need to do something as she is really uncomfortable.

[YoYo]

I have a dust-mite allergy and I've never been sniffle free (only when I lived in Singapore where the air was so dense and dust/pollen and other things didn't fly around - I know they aren't the mites, but I don't know if can have a dust mite allergy and also not be allergic to the actual dust) it seriously sucks but it's just something I've learned to live with.

[LysnDan]

Hello. My hubby has a dust mite allergy (amongst many other allergies) and has had 3 long years of injections to desensitise him to the allergens.

Might be worth looking into a paediatrician or gp who can refer you to an immunologist that can help make up a plan to reduce the effects the allergens have on your bubba

[JLeigh29]

Are you sure it's definitely dust mites only? I'm also allergic to grasses, moulds and pollens, so it's always difficult to say what causes my sniffles. I am also worse with the change of seasons. And nights are worse than days. Carpets, bedding, lounges etc can all carry dust mites, so while a pillow/mattress protector help, there are heaps of other places they'll still be. Classrooms are a haven for dust mites, esp if there are cushions in a reading corner, bean bags. Carpets in schools are always old, aren't they?! I was also worse with too much chalk dust (dustless chalk? Ha!), so basically any small particles. There could also be certain trees at school that make things worse.

Is she on any meds?

[anney]

Thanks ladies,
Blood test was negative to foods, grasses/pollens and animal hair but positive to dust mites/dust/****roaches.
Dd tells me they have a bean bag room between their classroom and another so I am sure that is full of dust and the carpet will be awful.
Wow PP, 3 years worth of injections is heaps! My dd nearly fainted having the blood test and when the doctor mentioned the injections, I thought she was going to run out of the room.
The doctor gave me a script for avamys, which is a nasal inhaler with a steroid. I wasn't going to get it but talked to a pharmacist today who assured me there would be no long term bad affects so I think I will go get it tomorrow. I washed ever bit of bedding and vacced every inch of her room today and I can still hear her sniffing.
Yules, have you found anything that helps you. Do you think it is possible to clean the house enough or use protectors that it will actually help. Personally I think that is a losing battle as dust is everywhere. Was happy to see that recommend not making your bed each day as it is better to let it air. That is one less thing to do. LOL

[LysnDan]

Invest in a really good vacuum. One with a power head instead of a turbo head. It gets deep into the carpet to drag dust mites and other nasties out!

Yep, 3 long years. Started off on fortnightly injections, then monthly

[Taurean]

I have a dust-mite allergy and I've never been sniffle free (only when I lived in Singapore where the air was so dense and dust/pollen and other things didn't fly around - I know they aren't the mites, but I don't know if can have a dust mite allergy and also not be allergic to the actual dust) it seriously sucks but it's just something I've learned to live with.

I'm much the same. I have a severe (off the scale!) dust mite allergy and the only thing that really helped was desensitisation. It was a very long process though and I still have the sniffles most days. I spent around 3 years getting injections for dust mites and grass - one shot in each arm. I started off weekly then fortnightly after a while then monthly and so on. It definitely helped but it's not an easy road.

I currently use Nasonex nasal spray which helps a lot but it's not cheap. I think I pay around $35 after my private health rebate and it last around 2 months, often less if I need to sprays up each nostril daily.

I also take Telfast regularly which also helps. My bedding is all allergen protected and my floors are vacuumed regularly. We are living in our investment property while we build and we had new carpets put in prior to us moving in to save my poor nose. My allergy specialists always recommended floorboards or tiles for me, lol.

If you're happy to try some drugs then children's Claratyne would be worth while. It may pay to see a specialist too. Normal GPs don't seem to know enough about allergies IMO.

Big hugs to your DD. It's a very annoying allergy to have.

[Strawman]

I also have a dustmite and ****roach allergy, that was diagnosed when I was young, around 6 perhaps. Although cleaning is very important, you will never be able to completely get rid of dust mites in your home - they are pretty much a fact of life. And then of course you leave the house and you can't control the dust out there.

You don't mention in this thread what you did to de-allergen your home, but getting rid of carpet and soft furnishings in her bedroom, freezing soft, fluffy toys in plastic bags occasionally (and not sleeping with them!) and washing bedding weekly in hot water helps.

I've had immunotherapy shots too, I only had 12 weeks worth as I then got pregnant and chose to discontinue the shots but even that short amount of time (two years ago now) made a big difference. Children have the option of drops under their tongue instead of shots, they are supposedly not as effective long term as the injections but might get her through childhood? Immunotherapy is rather pricey though, if that is a consideration.

Hope you find some relief.

[dusty]

Hey Anney I too have had one since childhood which triggered asthma but have improved heaps over the years. I second nicnacs suggestion of getting rid of soft furnishings. They drove me mad as a child and my mum wasn't a very consistent cleaner. Leather couches, no carpets, airing and putting mattresses, pillows in the sun can help. We have no carpets in my house and for the first time in years I feel in control of dust mites. Jumpers were another source of irritation but modern fleeces are much better as you can wash them regularly and still keep warm! A power head vacuum is a great investment, one you can use on mattresses couches, curtains etc. also one with a Hepa filter regularly replaced.
Books are another place they can gather. I was a book hoarder and lover but I did a huge cull and now only have very special ones in the lounge and study not in any bedrooms.
Get rid of any feather doonas and buy ones you can wash regularly. We only have wool ones which I wash and air. Stuffed toys are another great incubator - I can't stand them but DD is slightly obsessed so I put them out in the sun often.
Visiting other people's houses sometimes sets me off so I try to suggest going outside ;/ I sometimes have to take my own vacuum cleaner when renting a holiday house and get someone else to do a big clean before I can stay there.
Op Shops were another source as a kid but a lot seem almost like new clothing stores now.
Like my mother I was a clutterer/hoarder but over time I've tried to be more minimalist and keep surfaces clear of clutter (not very successfully) and having a regular cleaner helps as she puts stuff away. HTHs!

[bbr]

Are you sure it's definitely dust mites only? I'm also allergic to grasses, moulds and pollens, so it's always difficult to say what causes my sniffles. I am also worse with the change of seasons. And nights are worse than days. Carpets, bedding, lounges etc can all carry dust mites, so while a pillow/mattress protector help, there are heaps of other places they'll still be. Classrooms are a haven for dust mites, esp if there are cushions in a reading corner, bean bags. Carpets in schools are always old, aren't they?! I was also worse with too much chalk dust (dustless chalk? Ha!), so basically any small particles. There could also be certain trees at school that make things worse.

What do you do if your are allergic to all these? are you taking meds?

[Taurean]

What do you do if your are allergic to all these? are you taking meds?

I'm the same as Jleigh plus I'm allergic to more. I take Telfast regularly (180mg dose). At my worst, I was taking three a day as prescribed by my specialist. I also use a prescription only nasal spray daily, Nasonex. It's so expensive but partially covered by my private health and works really well. I also use a saline sinus rinse when I'm really bad or suffering from sinusitis, which happens several times a year.

I'm seeing an allergy specialist again soon and will possibly go through desensitisation treatment again (I had it done for grass and dust mites 12 years ago). It's a long process (around 2 years) but it certainly helped last time. They can treat up to four allergens at once now too so that's a real positive for me.

[~clover~]

DD1 had a blood test done years ago & has allergies to dust mites & mould. I've actually never thought about the mites til now. Mould was always the big trigger for her asthma, but mites are probably not helping.

We have no carpet in our house now, but her asthma was shocking out at my parents house out of town.. Basically a shed... I'd actually completely forgotten about it.

I have a vax & have always cleaned my carpets every 6 months. I've got no other suggestions, but will be keeping my eye on this thread & paying more attention when she flares up again.

[bbr]

I'm the same as Jleigh plus I'm allergic to more. I take Telfast regularly (180mg dose). At my worst, I was taking three a day as prescribed by my specialist. I also use a prescription only nasal spray daily, Nasonex. It's so expensive but partially covered by my private health and works really well. I also use a saline sinus rinse when I'm really bad or suffering from sinusitis, which happens several times a year.

I'm seeing an allergy specialist again soon and will possibly go through desensitisation treatment again (I had it done for grass and dust mites 12 years ago). It's a long process (around 2 years) but it certainly helped last time. They can treat up to four allergens at once now too so that's a real positive for me.

My friend suffers from dust mite as well and shes about to see a doctor, saline is good.I would mention Telfast to her. What about this desentisation? is it expensive? out patient or you have to be confined?

[bbr]

DD1 had a blood test done years ago & has allergies to dust mites & mould. I've actually never thought about the mites til now. Mould was always the big trigger for her asthma, but mites are probably not helping.

We have no carpet in our house now, but her asthma was shocking out at my parents house out of town.. Basically a shed... I'd actually completely forgotten about it.

I have a vax & have always cleaned my carpets every 6 months. I've got no other suggestions, but will be keeping my eye on this thread & paying more attention when she flares up again.

How about pets like cats and and dogs? they say it triggers asthma too.. moulds can really trigger asthma. have a puffer, was it recommended for her? how about ventolin?

[~clover~]

Don't think animals make a difference. We didn't have pets when she was diagnosed with the asthma. And having them or not has never made a difference.

She's actually been a lot better the past year or so. She has ventolin & a preventative, but hasn't needed them in a while. I've noticed a difference when we've been in more humid area's & when I know there's been mould in carpets etc.

[JLeigh29]

To minimise my allergies, I do all the stuff mentioned above. Try to remove triggers as much as possible and treat symptoms. I don't vacuum myself and try not to dust. If I have to, I dust with a wet cloth. If I can go outside while DH vacuums, I do. I have just had a flare up with the change of season (pregnancy can also play a part) that gave me asthma and eczema as well as hayfever. Had to go back on my asthma preventer as well as my reliever meds. Much worse at night, which makes me think closing up the house and being indoors is a contributing factor (so more the dust and weather than pollens or plants).

I'm the opposite to Clover's DD in that the dry air makes me worse than humidity

[bbr]

Don't think animals make a difference. We didn't have pets when she was diagnosed with the asthma. And having them or not has never made a difference.

She's actually been a lot better the past year or so. She has ventolin & a preventative, but hasn't needed them in a while. I've noticed a difference when we've been in more humid area's & when I know there's been mould in carpets etc.

Yes moulds and humid areas triggers asthma. For some people danders of animals and their furs can cause asthma too even the talc of a powder. So you also have to avoid these things.. good thing shes better now..

[bbr]

To minimise my allergies, I do all the stuff mentioned above. Try to remove triggers as much as possible and treat symptoms. I don't vacuum myself and try not to dust. If I have to, I dust with a wet cloth. If I can go outside while DH vacuums, I do. I have just had a flare up with the change of season (pregnancy can also play a part) that gave me asthma and eczema as well as hayfever. Had to go back on my asthma preventer as well as my reliever meds. Much worse at night, which makes me think closing up the house and being indoors is a contributing factor (so more the dust and weather than pollens or plants).

I'm the opposite to Clover's DD in that the dry air makes me worse than humidity

So in that case you have to humidify the air, hanging of damp cloth in a room or wiping it on your face and body reintroduces moist so you won't be dehydrated..