Preventive measures for patients allergic to mites Mites live in house dust. Therefore, to prevent the accumulation of dust is important for reducing the mites’ “nests” and, consequently, diminishing their number. Several measures should be taken to avoid the accumulation of dust and facilitate the cleaning of the whole house, and in particular the bedroom of allergic individuals. General measures for the house Keep the house well cleaned and aerated; Avoid everything that favours the accumulation of dust, for instance carpets, tapestries, non-washable curtains, shelves with books, soft toys, among others; Avoid tobacco smoke; Avoid the use of aerosols (sprays); Avoid the use of cleaning products with intense fragrances. Specific measures for bedrooms Floor should be smooth, for instance wood or vinyl and easily washable; Carpets and thick rugs should be avoided; Walls should be smooth and not covered with wallpaper; When used, curtains should be straight and of synthetic material; avoid drapery that facilitates the accumulation of dust; Furniture should be plain and straight (with little detail); Bedrooms should hold no sound systems, televisions or computers; Bedrooms should hold no books, CDs, games and soft toys; Prefer cotton sheets, avoid flannel sheets; Prefer synthetic material duvets instead of blankets; When opting for blankets or quilts, prefer those of synthetic fibres, and put on top a straight bedcover or duvet of synthetic material; Avoid feather duvets and fluffy blankets; Use foam pillows or of other synthetic material, avoid feather pillows; Replace the pillows regularly, every 2 or 3 years for instance; Sheets, pillowcases and duvets should be machine washed at a temperature above 55ºC, to ensure an effective elimination of mites and their particles; The use of anti-mite covers for pillows and mattresses is considered an effective method to reduce the level of mites in the bed, and therefore, recommended for people allergic to mites. However, not all covers on the market have the same efficacy; Aerate the bedroom; Vacuum frequently, preferring vacuum cleaners with HEPA filters (high efficiency particulate arrestance); Reduce humidity with dehumidifiers. Preventive measures for patients allergic to pollens Pollens are the major allergens in the external environment . For patients allergic to pollens, with the usual time of pollination in the Spring, the adoption of the following measures can be very useful: Check the Pollinic Report available all year long to learn about the concentration of pollens in ambient air; Avoid outdoor activities, when pollinic concentrations are high. Walking in gardens, lawn mowing, camping or practising sports outdoors, will increase exposure to pollens and the risk of allergies; Plan holidays to avoid contact with a specific pollen you are allergic to. Prefer places with low pollinic rates (for instance, snow, beach). The period of maximum pollination can be identified through the Pollinic Report; Keep the car windows closed when travelling and use high efficiency particle filters in the car; Motorcyclists should wear integral helmets; At home, keep the windows closed during the day, when pollen concentrations are high; Wear sunglasses whenever going out to minimize eye complaints. Preventive measures for patients allergic to insect sting Measures to be taken by patients allergic to the poison of insects, during the Spring and Summer , to minimize exposure to insects, such as bees, wasps or mosquitos, include: Avoid places where these insects are frequent: gardens with flowers, fruit trees, fallen trunks (where wasps usually make their nests); Avoid perfumes or cosmetics with intense fragrances; Avoid wide loose clothes of light colours or with floral patterns; Avoid drinking and eating sweets and fruit outside; Avoid proximity to garbage bins and dumpsters; Drive vehicles with windows closed; Wear a helmet, gloves and keep the body as covered as possible, when riding bicycle or motorcycle; Never walk barefoot, especially on grass; Be very careful when doing sports outdoors because sweat attracts these insects. Patients with severe reactions to insect sting should always carry along a device for the self-administration of adrenaline, and must know how to use it, as well as their relatives and friends so they can help them, if necessary. These patients should be observed by a specialist in immune-allergology , who will assess the indication to take an anti-allergic vaccine in hospital setting. This kind of treatment is highly efficient in patients allergic to bee and wasp sting. Author : Luís Miguel Borrego Meet the allergology team from Hospital da Luz network . The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
