Severe dust allergy, how can this be avoided at school?

[MysteriousCity]

Son scored 6 for RAST test for dust mites and I know you can get false positives but I have seen his reaction after being somewhere dusty or sat on a carpet.

Realistically what an I ask school to do to help keep him away from dust?

Would it be reasonable to ask he doesn't sit on carpets?

Can anyone else think of things in school that might be a problem?

I can understand your concerns. My daughter was dust mite allergic amongst other things at primary school too. We didn't really do a lot regarding the school carpet tbh. But school were very aware.
How old is your son?
If young, my school would insure all the dress up clothes were washed in dd's own washing liquid. I think I bought them some for them.
Also she used to sit on a special cushion at story time which we purchased, if I can remember correctly, in a modern made cover (child's design) with a dust mite barrier underneath.
I also used to give her one of those pillow case barrier covers, with no pillow in, to sit on, when on coach trips. I don't think she like doing it though. But would stop the allergens, was my thought. I will rack my brains incase I can think of anything else (was a long while ago)
School plays when older, they would send her picked out fit home for me to wash prior to wearing.

..............and I remember supplying them with Cetirizine for any dust reaction

In my dd's case it was not only focused on her dust mite allergy as she had a vast amount of other issues too. Has your ds got eczema to go with it? Or pollen allergy? Just a thought as we had other measures too. Like not sitting by a window for the hot sun or pollens to cause more issues. Also not to sit by a heater due to aggravating her eczema further. They may have even given her a wooden chair at the time rather than plastic to stop her sweating with her uncomfortable skin. She also had cream at school and her own special soap sub in the toilets for hand washing.
Sorry to go off track there but so used to it all going hand in hand.
I'm pretty sure dd's school stepped up the classroom cleaning prior to her starting. They were a very good school.
The school having an antihistamine to administer is good unless you will be giving him daily doses yourself in the mornings. When my dd started she was not on antihistamines everyday. But later was so I withdrew the schools medication as to not double up administering it.

My son also scored 4 for grass and trees.
Would you say this is high enough that he shouldn't really do p.e on the grass?

He also has excema.
Thank you for your replies it has given me things to think about as this is all new to me

I am not really up on the rast test scoring as dd usually has the skin prick testing. However, I did find this scoring chart online.
I certainly didn't stop dd doing PE at school but in all honestly I don't think her primary school used the grass field that much. More indoor or on the courts I believe which was much better. Sports day and sports day practises were always on the field as well as football.
Dd in general however spent most of her time at primary in 100% cotton uniform trousers (couldn't cope in skirts) and 100% cotton long sleeve shirts.

1. to stop her being able to scratch
2. to help limit allergens on her skin 3)to stop her burning from the sun as couldn't wear sunscreen. As bad as dd was with eg pollens, she did continue PE in t shirts and shorts like everyone else. Later I would dose her up with antihistamines and ensure with staff that she should never sit directly on the grass when in the field. On coming home she would need a shower and PE clothing washed to rid of pollen after grass exposure. I didn't like dd to feel too different, however you have to see how your ds copes with it. Secondary school was much more of a struggle with PE on the field and dd really did start to flare and hive up badly despite being on medication. I then had to take things further as to request she wore sports leggings and a long sleeve running top under her school PE t shirt. But this was rather hot on the hottest days. But did help keep the pollens directly off her skin. It's just a case of seeing how your ds manages over the years and how far you have to go to keep him happy but bearable. Also considering what he is willing to co operate with too. Like I said with dd, I would supply her something to sit on at times eg cinema trips or picnics and she would not use it as didn't want too (esp as she got older). Then would suffer the itching instead and requiring a shower once home. In general with dd's pollen allergy I don't dry any towels or bedding on the washing line. I hardly ever hung her clothing out either. I do more so now, but by the time the pollen starts triggering badly most of her clothes will be dried indoors. Our recent skin pricks have showed up reactions to dogs cats and horses, I really wonder how much more she can be allergic too

It's all very confusing to know what to do for the best as one thing helps one allergy but makes another worse e.g I've been told to open the windows in my house every day to air the house and reduce dust mites but then grass pollen will be come in through the window.

I am hoovering every day but again read mixed things that hoovering could make allergy worse by disturbing the dirt.

My son had a bad chest and sinus problems last night and now wondering if he has food allergies as well as environmental ones as the bad chest and headaches etc came out of nowhere whereas with the dust he starts sneezing and itching and there is a clue beforehand his sinuses are blocked.

Thanks for your replies it's given me lots of things to think about

I know it is very hard and very confusing in the beginning. We have been in this situation since dd was very young aprox 3yrs when she was firstly diagnosed with a life threatening peanut allergy. Then lots of other allergy diagnosis sprung up along the way and still do.
I rarely open my dd's bedroom window if it's any consolation, as bad as it sounds. She only has a tiny room. It is carpet free (vinyl) with a blind. Anti dustmite mattress as well as a dust mite proof mattress protector. www.allergybestbuys.co.uk/products/naturelle-cottonfresh-mattress-barrier-cover and an anti allergy duvet with cotton covers which I wash on 60 degrees. Most of her items are boxed, no fluffy toys anymore (as older) which was the vane of my life, as I would freeze them all in freezer bags and store them like that until she wanted them to kill dust mites. I use a dyson vacuum with a hepa filter which traps in dust allergens and pollen ect as to not expel them back into the air. Clean her bedroom weekly as thoroughly as I can. I do open other windows in the home but not hers. I only open hers after I have bleached down some mold and then I do so prior to cleaning and changing her bedding. I may open her window out of the main pollen season. But usually I just leave her door open to circulate air so that it doesn't directly come in through her window iykwim. You can get certain screens to stop pollens coming through the open window but I have never done this.
A lot of things vary on how bad my dd is at the time and how I deal with things. We have slowly changed our home, getting rid of soft furnishings or finding ways to improve things regarding dust mite allergens. It takes time.... I also use a dehumidifier to remove excess moisture in her bedroom at times which also contains filters to remove allergens.
My dd gets oral allergy syndrome where a lot of fruits make her mouth itch, can be linked to the pollen allergy too. She also has asthma (is on inhalers) which triggers when ill or at friends houses due to allergens and now we know why as not only is it the dust mite allergy and pollen allergy but also cats and dogs! She still copes, just ensures she is on her antihistamines, inhalers and has a quick shower and hair wash on coming home with clean clothes. Endless washing I know but worth it. Allergen clothing stays out of bedroom! Its a routine now, tedious but workable.

Does your daughter get very bad headaches with the allergies?
This is my sons worse problem, he can deal with itching etc but he says the headaches are unbearable when it starts.

Chloesmum, your dd allergies sound very similar to mine. I have dust, cats, hayfever. Also lavender, chlorine, some purfumes. And bleeches, pine scented polish etc.
Mine are mainly nose related but the cats and having a cold/flu can trigger asthma as if im allergic to those too.
My lg is i think allergic to soy,but also gets ear infections feb and march yearly so that could be environmental.
Some hayfever is apparently cross reactive with some foods.

MysteriousCity She does suffer some headaches but really unsure about whether it's the allergies or not. Not noticed a direct link. Her headaches usually comes along with nausea and years ago she suffered a spell of ongoing stomach pains at the same time. Peadiatrician considered abdominal migraines.Dd is not particularly prone to bad sinus problems generally (usually quite controled) and does suffer more with the intense itching, eczema, asthma, hives and eye discomfort when flared.
Naty1 Yes you do sound simular with allergens. Dd has also noticed chlorine causes her some problems. She also suffered many ear infections when young but outgrew them thankfully. Shes allergic to ibruprofen too aswell as a recent rash to penicillin. Perfumes seem okay so far to her relief

As a lower priced alternative dust mite proof mattress protector you could try www.snugnights.co.uk/brand/snugnights-bedding/allergon-waterproof-mattress-protector.html they are washable to 90c and Oeko-Tex 100 certified