- The bedroom should be preferably well ventilated and sunny. Avoid pillows and mattresses made of kapok fibers or feathers and prefer those made of foam, artificial fibers or latex, wherever possible covered by plastic material (vinyl) or mite-impermeable covers. The bed frame should be cleaned twice a month. Bedding and blankets should be changed and washed regularly with detergent and at high temperatures (>55 ºC) and dried in the sun or with hot air. If possible, the mattress surface should be vacuumed using a powerful domestic vacuum cleaner model.
- Avoid rugs, carpets, curtains and cushions. Give preference to washable floors (ceramic, vinyl and wood) and venetian blinds or shutters instead of curtains, made of material that can be cleaned with a damp cloth. If the carpets or rugs are very heavy and difficult to remove, they should be vacuumed twice a week, if possible, after being allowed to ventilate.
- Beds and cribs should not be placed next to the wall. If that is not possible, place it next to the wall with no marks of humidity or next to the sunniest one.
- Avoid stuffed animals, book shelves, magazines, cardboard boxes or any other place where dust mite colonies can be formed in the bedroom. Replace them with fabric toys, so they can be washed frequently.
- Identify and eliminate mold and moisture, especially in the bedroom, reducing humidity to less than 50%. Periodically check the humid areas of your home, such as bathroom (plastic shower curtains, under the sinks, etc.). A diluted bleach solution can be applied to the moldy places until its final resolution, even though they are respiratory irritants. It is essential to investigate other sources of exposure to fungi outside the home (day care, school and workplaces).
- Avoid using ordinary brooms, dusters, and vacuum cleaners. Use a damp cloth daily to clean the house or use vacuum cleaners with special filters twice a week. Remove the allergic patient from the environment while cleaning.
- Environments that have been closed for prolonged periods (beach or country house) should be ventilated and cleaned at least 24 h prior to the arrival of individuals with respiratory allergy.
- Avoid the presence of pet animals and birds, especially in the patient's bedroom and bed (safe environment). Keep the bedroom door always closed. If it is impossible, restrict the animal to a single area of the house and use HEPA filters in the patient's room. Preferably, pets for allergic children should be fish and turtles.
- Avoid exposure to mouse and rat allergens, with professional intervention integrated with house cleaning measures; including the placement of traps, sealing of holes and cracks that may serve as entry points and the use of rodenticide in cases of large infestations.
- Inspection is an important step for cockroach extermination. Avoid insecticides and cleaning products with strong odors; prefer using the bait method. Exterminating cockroaches and rodents may be necessary.
- Remove the garbage and keep food in closed packages, as these attract rodents. Do not store garbage indoors.
- Give preference to soap paste and powder versions for bathroom and kitchen cleaning. Avoid talcum powder, perfumes, deodorants, especially in spray.
- Do not smoke or allow smoking inside your home or car. Prenatal, perinatal and postnatal smoking is associated with future respiratory problems in the offspring.
- Avoid extremely hot baths and sudden temperature fluctuations. The ideal temperature of the water is body temperature.
- Prefer the outdoor life. Sports can and should be practiced, avoiding days with high exposure to pollen or pollutants in certain geographic areas.
- Patients allergic to pollen are advised to keep the house and car windows closed during the day, opening them at night (lower pollen count). House and car ventilation systems should be equipped with special pollen filters. Protective masks and safety glasses are useful. Pollen can be transported indoors on clothing and pets. Avoid leaving clothes to dry in the open air; if possible, use an electric dryer.
- Avoid outdoor activities during periods of high pollen counts, between 5 and 10 o'clock in the morning and on hot, windy, and dry days.
- Keep air conditioner filters clean. If possible, clean them monthly. Avoid exposure to very low ambient temperature and sudden temperature fluctuations. Remember that the conditioned air is dry and can be irritating. |
IV Brazilian Consensus on Rhinitis - an update on allergic rhinitis