By REBECCA MUTHONI
Living with an asthmatic child can be difficult, therefore it is important to ensure that your home if free of asthma triggers.
To do this though, you have to know which these asthma triggers are.
DUST AND DUST MITES
These are very common triggers for asthma. Dust mites are tiny insects found in household dust.
They feed on skin cells shed from your skin, and are found in plenty in some types of bedding, carpets and upholstered furniture.
To minimize dust mites in your home, follow these steps:
Avoid pillows made with feathers and instead choose bedding that is made with synthetic materials. Put covers on cotton bedding such as mattresses to avoid getting into contact with dust or dust mites. Also, wash them once a week using hot water.
Keep your house clean. Vacuum and dust regularly, and pay special attention to your child’s room. Use a vacuum cleaner or dust with a damp cloth to prevent the dust mite particles from spreading in the air, where they can be easily inhaled. Also dust wall hangings regularly since these too trap dust.
Wash all window curtains often.
Avoid carpets in areas where your child spends most of his time, for example the bedroom and sitting room.
Do not buy your child stuffed toys, since they harbour dust mites. Other toys should be kept as clean and dry as possible.
Aerate your home
This is an important step in managing asthma. Irritants such as perfume, smoke from wood or tobacco, household cleaning products, home fresheners, mosquito coils, and fumes from fresh paint can trigger attacks. To ensure indoor air is as pure as possible, take the following steps.
Do not permit smoking in your home environment.
Avoid perfumed household products, and instead use unscented laundry detergent. Also avoid scented room fresheners.
Ensure that the house is well ventilated. Open the windows and doors to let in fresh air and get rid of any allergens that may be lurking around. However, ensure that windows and doors are closed when pollen count is high, especially early morning.
Ensure that the kitchen is well-ventilated to expel smoke.
MOLDS
These are tiny plant-like organisms that thrive in damp areas, such as bathrooms. They reproduce and send spores in the air. When inhaled, mold spores can trigger an attack. To prevent this:
- Ensure that bathrooms are well-ventilated to reduce moisture.
- Repair leaking roofs, taps, and pipes.
- Clean and dry out damp closets.
- Do not keep house plants since they harbour mold
- Use chlorine bleach to clean surfaces that have visible mold, for instance beneath kitchen sinks.
- Use anti-mold paint on damp areas like the bathrooms.
- Animal triggers
Your child might react to proteins found in the saliva or dander of animals. Animal fur can also harbour pollen and dust mites.
Do not allow pets inside the house, and if you have them, brush them once in a while.
Encourage your child to wash his hands with soap and water after touching animals.
Keep your house free of cockroaches, since their droppings can trigger attacks. Clear food remains and wipe spills on the kitchen counters since these attract them. Use recommended pesticide to get rid of cockroaches.
With these simple precautions, your home will be the best place for your asthmatic child to live in.