Dust Mite Allergies

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Hello everyone . . . I was wondering if any of you have children that are highly allergic to dust mites? My 8 yr. old daughter started complaining of breathing difficulties and shortness of breath about a year an a half ago. She is bothered by it all day long, but gets worse when she's active in gym, at recess, or any other physical activity.Most of the time, she just stops the activity for a little while and then continues when she's feeling better. I have taken her to a cardiologist, an ENT, an allergist, a pulmonologist (exercise induced asthma has been ruled out) . . . they told me that acid reflux could be causing the breathing difficulty symptoms, but she just had an endoscopy and there was no evidence of acid reflux. It's been very frustrating. Now, I've decided to go back to the possibility that it might be dust mites. She has had allergy tests to see what she's allergic too . . . in addition to pollen, dogs and cats (we don't have pets) . . . she's highly allergic to dust mites. But at the time, the doctors didn't seem to put too much emphasis on the allergy. He told us to put dust mite pillow cases on her pillows and a cover on her mattress . . . we have hardwood floors in most of the house . . . except our family room . . . Since all of the tests she's had that could be causing her breathing issues have come back negative, I decided to go back to the allergist and do everything we can for the dust mite allergies to see if she improves. She is taking one over the counter Claritin tablet that she tolerates very well and seems to help with her runny nose and sneezing, but I think she may need something stronger. Her doctor perscribed Clarinex for her, and I'll be picking that up tomorrow. I hate to put her on a ton of medication, but I have to do whatever it takes to get her better.

I've been doing some research online about how often to clean sheets, bedding, curtains, etc. To possibly use air filters or dehumidifiers to keep the house at 50% humidity because the dust mites can't survive in 50% humidity . . . to use a special vacuum with a HEPA air filter and no bag, etc. Obviously, I'm ready to go and purchase these items if it's going to help her.

Have any of you had to do all this for your child . . . and has it helped? If they do have a dust mite allergy, what are their symptoms? Any feedback, suggestions or advice would be appreciated. I'm planning to make an appointment with the allergist this week, but in the meantime, I wanted to hear from others who may be going through the same thing with their child.

Thank you in advance for taking the time to read and respond to my post.

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I have a dust mite allergy in addition to other allergies. There isn’t much you can do about dust mites anywhere else, but my allergist told me that our bodies have an allergy “bucket.” If we are exposed to some allergens, our “bucket” fills up and when it’s full, we have a reaction. Therefore we may be able to tolerate small exposures, but not constant exposures. Eliminating as many allergens in the home as possible helps to keep our “bucket” more empty so that when we are exposed to allergens elsewhere, our reactions won’t be as severe. I hope that makes sense!

You need to do the best job on your daughter’s bedroom. Keep her door closed. I highly recommend getting a mattress cover and pillow cover. I buy the additive for the laundry called DeMite. You don’t have to use as much as it says on the bottle, one teaspoon is plenty and keeps the sheets from smelling like medicine. Wash her sheets weekly in DeMite. Get a vacuum with a HEPA filter and vacuum several times a week. Get a vacuum with a bag, and get an allergen bag. You don’t want a bagless system, they will just put the allergens back into the air when you empty the cup. There is a wonderful powder you can sprinkle on her rug, let it sit, and then vacuum it up. It kills the dust mites in the rug. I found it a good idea to get a duvet cover for the blanket on the bed, and then wash that weekly. It’s easier than washing the blankets every week. You should also get a good air cleaner for her bedroom and get allergen furnace filters. That will act like an air cleaner for the whole house.

I remember the first time I put all the dust mites covers on the bed and thoroughly cleaned my bedroom. I actually got a good night’s sleep and woke up feeling refreshed–not all puffy-eyed and sniffly! By helping her dust mite allergy, you will lessen the reactions she has elsewhere.

I also don’t recommend going on allergy medicine long term. I’ve had better luck with natural remedies like upping the vitamin C and taking bromelain and quercetin. I used to take prescription allergy medicine and it ended up not working as well and I had kidney pain. Any long-term medicine is not good unless absolutely necessary. Also, up her water intake. The more water she takes, the less histimine reaction she will have.

Good luck!

I forgot to mention–if you can, invest in a steam cleaner. The steam kills the dust mites and it’s a great chemical-free way to clean your home. I got one for $80 and it was the best investment ever! It cut down on the amount of chemicals I had to buy.

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The pediatric allergist I take my son to said that over-the-counter antihistamines rarely work against dust mite allergies. (I don’t know why this is, but he’s very good and so I trust his opinion based on his experience). So, after an unsuccessful trial with claritin, zyrtec, etc, we tried a nasal steroid instead for him (eg, nasonex, flonase, etc). It worked SO much better.

Also, the cleaning measures you suggested really do work. I too have a dust mite allergy, and I feel a lot better when I do what I should. And as another poster mentioned, concentrate your efforts in her bedroom - put stuffed animals in the freezer for 24 hours then wash them, wash bedding in hot water, curtains too if possible (if not, in the freezer then wash in cold water). If you have hardwood in her room that’s easier to clean, if you have any carpet or rugs then buy the spray and vacuum frequently. Also use a mattress and pillow cover for her.

Also, keep in mind that Christmas is a bad time of the year for dust mites so I’m not surprised if it’s really acting up right now. All the dust in the Christmas tree (real or artificial), on the decorations, etc. Do a really good cleaning as you take everything down at the end of the holiday and that will help!

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Hi, my son has similar: allergies (highly allergic to dust mites, cats and trees), he too has sports induced asthma (and he loves to play sports that often involve a mouth guard - ice hocey, lax), and he also has sleep apnea.

In addition to all the things listed, on his room we also: make sure to close his closet door at night, limit the books in his room/limit what goes on his book case, air filter on the house, do all the same for our bedroom as well. we also do saline rinses (nose) especially if we have been in an environment that has his allergens (carpeting at school, a friend with an old home (1700’s), camping, etc)

We have seen a pediatric pullminologist and a pediatric allergist - they are working together along with his pediatrician. They have prescribed two medications: singulair (tablet) and flownaise (spray), in addition two inhailers. the tablet and spray helped a lot, the inhailers really made a difference.

All this has improved our sons sleep apnea, avoided surgery (tonsils and adenoids), and keeps him running around being a kid. Good luck!

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You seem to be doing a great job finding info. One thing I can suggest is a professional cleaning of duct work. Even in homes with central HEPA filtration, things settle into the ducts because heating/cooling air pressure is not enough to clear them.

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You have tried everything, at great expense and great invasiveness of testing. You have no answers. You are grasping at straws and I don’t blame you for trying everything.

You can also strengthen her immune system so she has fewer breathing issues. Frankly, most breathing issues including asthma and allergies have a digestive component - most of them actually start in the gut. I work with a whole bunch of families who solved these problems with their kids - asthma, pneumonia-like symptoms, allergies - and they’re all remarkably healthy just by ADDING rather than taking all these things away. They didn’t have to pull up their carpets or put their kids through the allergy scratch tests or do all those medications. Happy to talk more if you want an idea of something else to try before you spend thousands of dollars on vacuums, mattress covers, duct work, and everything else. And what if you do all of that and it doesn’t work? There’s a simpler way to go at the problem.

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My oldest son had a dust mite allergy when he was younger. Yes, we did many of the things you’ve suggested and it helped. I washed his bedding (all of it) in hot water every week, kept his bedroom door closed, and covered the pillows and mattresses with dust mite covers. He is 16 now and has outgrown the dust mite allergy, although he does have other allergies (seasonal, pets, antibiotics). We also invested in a central vac system, although the HEPA filter vac you are considering is the next best thing. Good luck.

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I’m surprised that exercised induced asthma is ruled out because that’s what it sounds like to me. Did an allergist test her for that? Does she have an inhaler and does it work if she takes it when short of breath exercising and playing running games, etc.?
I am allergic to dust, not sure if it’s dust mite but dust, and I usually sneeze or get a rash and itch. Not so much breathing issues. Like it I dust books, it is bad and eyes water, etc., etc. Yes, my books get dusty. Hate to admit it. So I would think breathing issues is more than dust mites.
I thought bagless vacuums were worse for allergies. I have a HEPA fliter and a bag and you just throw the bag away with all that dust in it. We had allergists tell us to do all the things you’re speaking of, We were told no curtains, carpets, stuffed animals, pillows, etc., etc. I found it hard to live like that. I personally take flonase generic, which works wonders, and Zyrtec which is great for hives, and certain allergy conditions. They work very well for me together. Ask about taking those to try and see if they help.

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In addition to dust-mite allergies, our household also suffers from overlapping seasonal allergies as well as contact skin allergies. To back up Diane B, I wonder what food sensitivities your daughter also has, if any? We were told when my oldest was a baby and had both eczema and food allergies that it was fairly certain she would have respiratory allergies, too - if not asthma. These things often travel together.

For the dust mites:

We have covered all of the mattresses and bed pillows in the house. The pillows in the living room have covers that can be removed and washed, in hot water - just like the bedsheets and blankets. We don’t have heavy comforters that can’t be washed, and spare blankets and pillows are in dust-proof bags when they are stored. Stuffed animals were culled down, and the rest get washed, too (or put in the freezer, in the case of those with batteries or music boxes). The curtains in the kids’ rooms and the fabric shower curtain are all machine-washable, too, and the carpet steamer has an attachment that works on the other shades in the house.

It’s counter-intuitive, but we only vacuum once a week. The vacuum - no matter how good it is - stirs up almost as many allergens as it removes, so frequent vacuuming can actually make things worse. (Ever notice how it seems like you need to dust after you vacuum?) So I also try to vacuum when my husband or daughter are not in the room, at least. Pulling out the carpet is on our wish-list, but it’s prohibitively expensive, so we pay careful attention to the vacuuming schedule. (The living room furniture gets vacuumed, too.)

We have anti-allergen filters on the A/C unit, that get changed regularly. We also have several live ferns to clean the air naturally (even if just a little bit) and add to the humidity in the house. All of the bedrooms also have cool mist humidifiers.

For other allergies:
We have found that washing hair EVERY DAY before bed during the peak allergy seasons helps a lot. The allergens settle in your hair during the day, and it really does help to wash them out before you take all that to bed with you.

Windows stay closed during the peak of the allergy seasons. Coats, hats, and shoes stay outside in the garage.

We’ve also found that we sleep better when we use unscented laundry detergent and no fabric softener (substitute vinegar - works like a charm). No one in the house is necessarily allergic to these things, but they can aggravate allergies in people who already have sensitivities.

And nix the anti-bacterial soaps. Allergies are your immune system going nuts over something that’s not really a threat. So you have to give it real (but minor) things to worry about.

The symptoms we have on bad high allergy days are stuffy heads, sneezing, runny noses, aching sinuses (in my case, my teeth hurt, too - I have deep roots that extend into my sinus cavities, so inflamed sinuses = painful teeth), swollen eyes, headaches, post-nasal drip and the sore throats that come with it. Sometimes a cough, depending on the length and severity of the sinus drainage. (Lethargy may or may not count - since it’s difficult to sleep with all of the other junk, it might just be a side effect rather than an actual symptom.) We can keep our symptoms to a minimum with all of this, but during the peak cedar season (which will hit any day now), all it really does is keep us from being miserable, and at least functional. We rely on daily otc allergy meds to help out with the rest - but it takes a couple of days for them to be really effective. Zyrtec or claritin are our go-tos, and we have stacked benadryl on top of zyrtec for really bad days, though rarely, since I really don’t like loading up on medicines, either. However, an anti-inflammatory can be helpful, too, since most of the pain issues are caused by swelling in the sinuses.

I hope at least some of this helps! Hang in there, mama.

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You said your daughter had the allergy tests - I’m assuming you mean the skin prick test? Has she also had the 26 common food allergy tests? That’s a separate test, it’s a blood test and it identifies the 26 most common foods or ingredients that one can be allergic to (dairy, nuts, etc). It’s quite a simple test.

Also, request that your daughter have her IgE level tested. That’s also a blood test, and it stands for immuno-globulin something (I forget). However, if the IgE levels are high, that indicates an active allergic fight going on in the body. Again, it’s quite a simple test from the patient’s standpoint, just a quick blood draw.

Dr. Travis Stork (I don’t watch his show, but he is on some kind of afternoon medical talk show, I think, or else he’s the medical contributor to a show that is on tv daily) has a new campaign called the Asthma Express, and it’s all about Allergic Asthma. If you google Dr. Stork Asthma Express you’ll find the website devoted to all of this. There’s a patient/doctor conversation and question guide, and some info which might help you.

Also, have you had her tested for Lyme disease and it’s co-infectants? They can produce breathing difficulties.

Hope this helps.

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As I read your post in the first few sentences, it sounded like Asthma, to me. I have asthma.
But then you said, that Asthma has been ruled out, per all the Specialists she has seen.
They ruled out “exercise induced” Asthma… but what about just having Asthma overall???
Asthma occurs, due to many various triggers.
Not only due to exercise.

Then, sure, her activities and home environment has been considered, per her symptoms and per allergies etc.
But, what about- the general air quality in your city and the weather???
The general air quality of a locale can also… impact a person’s health and/or tendency for related Asthma symptoms. ie: here in Hawaii, we have an active Volcano. When certain wind patterns are prevalent, people get asthmatic, symptoms, due to the Volcanic pollutants in the air, which the eyes cannot even see. Even if they are not, asthmatic. But it is due to the air quality, at these times. And per the weather… and the types of particles in the air, per trees/flowers and what pollens are in the air at certain seasons or periods. Bear in mind, that even if you can’t “see” it… many airborne particles/pollens/pollutants can be on a person’s clothing etc., and it can cause, seemingly Asthmatic or allergic, symptoms in their respiratory system.
So keep this in mind.

Then, you said that your daughter gets Asthmatic symptoms… while at school. And it is worse… when she is at the Gym or at recess or per any physical activity, at school So, what is the school environment like? Its air quality, its building materials, its dust levels and what not?
There is dust, everywhere. For example. Or the gassing off of various building materials can cause some people problems.
Or, if there are nearby factories or industrial plants nearby etc., then whatever is going into the air from these places, can or may also… affect people’s respiratory system. Some more than others.

Then at home, you should probably get an air purifier for her room, or for the rooms… that your daughter is in frequently. This can also improve the air quality at home. In the home.
And then she only seems to have an allergy to Dust Mites and per what ALL the Specialists said.

Just bear in mind, that there are many things, that can bring on respiratory problems in people, but it cannot be entirely eradicated. Air quality in any given location always changes. Daily and per seasons and weather as well.
But at home, you can use the various dust mite covers and use hypoallergenic home products etc. and things with no fragrances etc.

In addition to using Claritin… has she ever been prescribed any Inhalers??? Per her breathing issues?
Usually, an inhaler is tried. And if it helps, then you will know or not and the Doctor can assess things.

Anyway, here is a link from the American Lung Assoc. about dust mites:

This is the site that my Mom’s Doctor recommended to her per her allergies:

Also, when vacuuming… have your daughter stay out of that area for at least 1 hour. Per my Mom’s Doctor, when dusting/vacuuming… tiny dust particles that we can’t even see, are kicked up into the air while and after vacuuming. And it can trigger respiratory problems while vacuuming is going on. So essentially, my Mom should not vacuum at all, or I do it for her. And she can’t be in the area while it is going on.

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I suggest that she has asthma. My granddaughter has asthma and dust mites is just one of the allergens that triggers it. Dog dander definitely triggers symptoms, too. Her mother uses a vacuum with HEPA filter but that doesn’t stop the symptoms.

My granddaughter sees a pediatric allergist regularly and the focus is on treating the symptoms. It would be impossible to remove all allergens from her world. She has a rescue inhaler that she uses only in the event of an attack. Your daughter’s symptoms sound the same as my granddaughter’s symptoms that indicate asthma. She also uses a preventive inhaler daily as well as an OTC antihistamine, Zyrtec, and a nasal spray daily. This regime has drastically reduced her asthma attacks. But she still has one every few weeks. Asthma cannot be cured. One has to learn how to manage it.

If you haven’t taken her to see an allergist I urge you to do so. They can give her tests which will indicate whether or not this is asthma. Even if she’s just having spells of difficulty breathing, if she has asthma, her lungs are being damaged by the spells she’s aware of and times when she’s not aware.

My granddaughter is only aware of symptoms because she’s had them pointed out to her while they were happening in the doctor’s office. At first she wasn’t aware that a slight feeling of tightness in her chest or throat was the beginning of an attack. If she used her rescue inhaler then she wouldn’t have a full blown attack. She’s also aware that a tickle in her throat may not just be a tickle. With experience she can prevent full blown attacks.

After reading your SWH I suggest that you need to stick with one doctor. Diagnosis is often a matter of trial and error. By skipping around to various doctors you’ve prevented any one doctor from becoming experienced with her and her symptoms. It took several appointments before the correct dose of the correct medications to could be found. I agree that an allergist is the best choice.

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Dust mite allergies? Mite feces are one of the most toxic allergens to humans and pets. Clear them up with Norwex’s Mattress Cleaner. Approximately 10 million dust mites live in a bed, 8 million in a mattress, and 2 million in a pillow. The primary food source of dust mites is dead skin cells from humans (which accounts for approximately 80% of the dust in a home). This enzyme based cleaner can be sprayed where dust mite populations thrive: mattresses, bedding, comforters, pillows, fluffy toys, upholstery, vehicle seats, pet beds, sofas, and anywhere organic material collects. I would love to talk with you about Norwex’s incredible products.
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Thank you all of you for your responses. To answer a few of the questions . . . they ruled out exercise-induced asthma after having her do a pulminary function test, then run on a treadmill, then use the inhaler. She’s been prescribed several nose sprays, Claritn, Zyrtek, Allegra, etc. - She’s also had various inhalers that I’ve brought to school when she was having a major event like Field Day or Jumprope for Heart and she used the inhalers before the activities and after and it didn’t improve her symtoms at all. Her symptoms bother her all day . . . they don’t get better or worse at school or when she’s at home . . . according to her the feeling stays the same until she becomes active. She doesn’t have a cough and has never had any wheezing. We live in a small town, not a city . . . so we don’t have any industrial plants around. They did bloodwork about a year ago, but I’m not sure if this included the 26 food allergies that was mentioned in a post. We also did the pricking test, which came back negative for food allergies. She complains of her breathing when she goes to bed, but sleeps through the night with no problem. I’m also not sure if they checked her IgE levels. I’ve been running around to various doctors with no luck . . . but now that everything else has come back negative, I decided to go back to the allergist and pulmonologist. Now I know what kind tests to ask them to do . . . and since it’s been about a year since her bloodwork . . . I’ll have them do a full work up, including Lyme (which came back negative a year ago) and see what happens. Unfortunately the allergist was closed today, so I have to wait until tomorrow to make an appointment…I’ll post what happens after I see the doctor. Thanks again for all your suggestions and advice. A Happy, Healthy New Year to all of you.

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Wow, this thread has so many useful tips! We have a range of symptoms across all five family members, I will be implementing some of these tips asap - maybe Santa will bring me a hepa filter vacuum. I do love Norwex so going to look into their enzyme cleaner. Getting our ducts clean is high on our list - it’s been at least 5 years but delaying it bc kind of expensive. Does anyone have tips for cleaning an artificial Christmas tree? We bought a REALLY nice LARGE one, it’s only 2 years old but I can see dust gathering and want our investment to last as long as possible. We switched to an artificial tree bc of allergies, so I want to make sure our new tree doesn’t start to add to our symptoms. TIA! @Toula_M @Christina_Bartell @Marda_Poyer @S_H @E_B5 @Diane_B3

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