For Dust Mite Allergies

Make Changes - Many children are allergic to the droppings of the house dust mite, a microscopic insect that lives wherever dust collects, such as on upholstery, pillows, stuffed animals and carpeting.  To decrease contact with dust mite droppings, you'll have to make some modifications in your furnishings--and probably change the way you clean the house.

Vinyl-wrap the bedding. Encase your child's mattress, box spring and pillow with vinyl-backed covers available here.@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

Get rid of feathers and down. ''Feather and down pillows and quilts are a haven for dust mites,'' says Rebecca Gruchalla, M.D., assistant professor of internal medicine in the Division of Allergy at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. ''Instead, switch to cotton blankets and foam or polyester pillows that are washable.''

Use hot water. Wash all of your child's bedding frequently in very hot water, says Dr. Shapiro. The hot water kills the mites and gets rid of the droppings. Use the hot water wash and rinse, and make sure you do all the bedding--mattress cover and blankets as well as sheets. It's best to launder bedding every one to two weeks.

Beware of floor coverings. Carpets and rugs are a favorite mite hideout. ''Take the carpet out of your child's bedroom,'' says Dr. Gruchalla. ''Instead, use a cotton scatter rug, which can be washed regularly in hot water.''

Treat remaining carpets. It may not be practical to strip the carpets from your entire house, but you can keep them allergen-free. Treat your rugs and carpets with Allergy Control Solution, a 3 percent tannic acid solution, recommends Dr. Shapiro. It's often used along with Acarosan, a product that actually reduces the mite population in carpets, according to Dr. Shapiro. Both these products must be applied every three months to be effective, following instructions on the package. Both products are available by mail from Allergy Control Products, 96 Danbury Road, Ridgefield, Connecticut 06877.

Change vacuum cleaner bags. While it's important to vacuum frequently, you first need to make an important change. ''Replace your usual disposable vacuum bag with one that's made of special paper that actually traps allergenic mite particles,'' says Paul V. Williams, M.D., clinical associate professor of pediatrics and allergy at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle. '' When you use a conventional vacuum bag, you're actually picking up the allergenic particles and blowing them into the air, making the situation worse.'' The allergen-trapping bags--one brand is Hysurf--can be found in a few stores where vacuum cleaners are sold or from National Allergy Supply, 4400 Georgia Highway, 120, P.O. Box 1658, Duluth, Georgia 30136.

Ditch the drapes. ''Drapes and venetian blinds are big dust collectors,'' says Dr. LoGalbo. It's okay to replace them with washable curtains, but it's even better if you just install a pull-down shade that can be wiped off, says Dr. Gruchalla.

Rid stuffed animals of mites. Because dust mites can abound in the fur of stuffed animals, it's best to move them out of your child's bedroom. But if your child is attached to one special toy, you can demite it with either the hot or cold treatment, according to Dr. Tinkelman. ''Dust mites can't live in extremes of temperature,'' he says. ''Treat the stuffed animal to a soaking in the hot water cycle of your washing machine, or put it inside a plastic bag and leave it in the freezer overnight.''

You may want to let your child choose another stuffed animal occasionally, switching off between favorites. If you buy more, to make things easier, select ones that will withstand machine washing and drying.

Change sleeping arrangements. Sleeping on the bottom bunk of a bunk bed or under a canopy is a no-no, says Dr. Tinkelman. ''Kids love canopies and bunk beds, but so do dust mites,'' he observes. Mites live both in the upper mattress of the bunk bed and in the dust that collects on top of a canopy.

Pay attention to closets. ''Closets are rarely cleaned and aired, and they tend to be dust mines,'' notes Dr. LoGalbo. Any closet the child uses should be vacuumed every time the rest of the room is. If you have little-used closets with old toys or papers, keep the closet door closed all the time.

Dry up. ''Mites love humidity,'' says Dr. Williams. ''If you can keep the humidity below 50 percent, you can go a long way to reduce mite problems. Invest in a room dehumidifier for your child's bedroom.''