Indoor allergen avoidance for allergic children

Abstract

The methods of avoidance of indoor allergens including house dust mites, fungi, pets and pollen are summarized.
Careful attention to bedding is most important for the avoidance of house dust mite allergens. Washing bedding with water hotter than 55°C would be very effective. Bedding should be dried in the sun on both sides at least once a week and thereafter vacuum-cleaned for more than 20 seconds per one square meter. A drier for bedding can be used. Covers for bedding should be washed at least once a week. House dust mite-impermeable covers or house dust mite-free bedding are also very useful. Drying rooms and wiping dew condensations are important for fungi avoidance. Potted plants with beautiful leaves are not good inside because of their ability to induce fungi growth.
Allergic children should not have pets. If the family of an allergic child needs to keep pets, pets should not be kept inside the house. When the family members or visitors come home from houses with pets, they should take care of pet allergens on their clothes. In order to prevent pollen from entering houses, timing of opening windows and care of clothes on arrival home should be considered.
Cleaning their houses is important for the avoidance of all kinds of allergens. Carpets or rugs should be taken away; wooden floors are much better. Use a vacuum cleaner for more than 20 seconds per one square meter at least once every 3 days. Open the windows while vacuum-cleaning. Clear away clutter to allow easy cleaning.
Several studies have been reported regarding home-based environmental interventions for allergic patients. Intensive interventions, such as education for environmental remediation to caretakers of patients on frequent home visits, usage of allergen-impermeable covers, a vacuum cleaner equipped with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter and a HEPA filter air purifier, are effective.
In order to conduct allergen avoidance, it is very important to identify the allergens for each child, to know the characteristics of the allergens, to consider how to avoid the allergens, and to educate caretakers of the child on the methods of avoidance.