Treatment options

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What are the treatment options?

Treatment with medication

Treatment with nose sprays, eye drops and/or antihistamine tablets will often ease or clear the symptoms. The treatment is the same as for any cause of allergic rhinitis or allergic conjunctivitis. See separate leaflets called 'Persistent Rhinitis' and 'Allergic Conjunctivitis' for details.

Avoiding the cause of the allergy

Treatment with medication often works so well that you may not have much motivation or need to avoid the cause of the allergy. However, some people may wish to try to avoid the cause of the allergy, particularly if medication is not fully effective. For example, some people decide to give up a pet if it is the cause of the symptoms.

If house dust mite is the cause of the allergy, it is impossible to keep your home permanently clear of the mite. However, the following will help to greatly reduce their number, which may ease symptoms. The main focus is on the bedroom.

Remove carpets (where possible) from the bedroom. Avoid soft furnishing in the bedroom.
Use dust tight ('mite proof') covers for mattress, duvet, and pillow. This can be left in place for several months. The usual covers can be put on top of the special covers, but should be washed every 1-2 weeks at 60 degrees centigrade.
Use feather rather than synthetic pillows (this is the opposite to what used to be thought).
Wet-dust the bedroom furniture every 1-2 weeks.
Vacuum or clean the bedroom floor regularly. Use a vacuum cleaner with a good filter (this removes the mite and prevents small particles coming out through the vacuum exhaust).
Regularly ventilate the bedroom (open the door and a window for a while on most days).
Keep soft toys to a minimum. Put them in the freezer in a plastic bag for 24 hours now and again. This kills any mites on them. If the toys are washable, wash them at 60 degrees centigrade after putting them in the freezer.
Try to keep humidity low (for example, do not dry washing on the radiator).
Let bedding air after use (that is, fold back duvet or blankets to allow sheets to air).

Symptoms of house dust mite allergy may also improve when on holiday in warm dry climates where there are less mites.

By Vicky Woollaston