Dust Mites Allergies - Symptons and Treatments

Dust mites are small. I mean really small, around 0.3 millimters in length. Since they have eight legs they are considered part of the Arachnida class, the same as spiders.

Although there are over ten million types of mites, only around a dozen species common to humans. Out of these there are three types which we should concern oselves about: house dust mites, hair follicle mites and scabies mites.

Dust mites are our bed partners. They feed off of the skin we shed as well as other substances we produce. We are their dinner. Not a very pleasant thought. They can also be found in our favorite chairs and carpets.

The mite allergen which affects us in not the mite itself but their fecal matter, also referred to as frass. More specifically it is the proteins which surround the frass which is the allergen.

Oly enough, it sometimes is our own actions which stir up these allergens the most. Walking, vacuuming, cleaning and changing bed linens stir up the duct mite allergens. These particles can remain suspended in the air for 20 to 30 minutes before settling.

Some of the most comman symptoms of duct mite allergies include:

Nasal Congestion
Asthma
Watery and Itchy Eyes
Eczema
Sneezing

you wake up with these types of symptoms, they may dissipate after leaving the area, such as going outside.

Since dust mites thrive on high humidity, when the humidity falls to around 50% to 60% the dust mites die. They also rely on human dander for their survival. Due to these facts, controlling your indoor environment can help reduce exposure to these dust mite allergens and in turn the allergic reactions they cause.

Dust Mites Treatments

Since dust mites areost commanly found in the bedroom and especially the bed, this should be the first area to be treated. Dust mites reproduce a new generation every three weeks, so it is important to following steps on a regular basis to have the most success.

Wash bedding weekly in hot water. 130 degrees or higher is required to kill dust mites. If hot water is not available on a regular basis, warm water washes will temporarily remove the allergen.
Dry cleaning is an alternative method which mayelp control house dust mites.
Dust mite covers are available for the mattress and box springs. These are also available for pillows or you can switch to washable synthetic pillows.
Use a dehumidifiero keep the room's humidity below 50% to kill the dust mites. Again this alone will not remove the allergens.
Maintain a temperature at 70 degrees or less.
Cover hot air vents with filters to clean the air before it enters the room. Also, closing the air vents and using another source of heat such as an electric radiator will aid in controlling the allergens.
Specialized vacuums are available to remove the allergens and dust mites with out stirring them up into the air.
Remove heavy carpeting in the bedroom and surrounding areas. If this in not an option, vacuum regularly with HEPA bags or filter.
While vacuuming will remove the st mite allergens, it will not remove the live dust mites. For this purpose, chemical agents may be used to kill the mites. These products though are not long lasting and so not highly recommended.

Summary

Since dust mites thrive in homes that are warm and humid, controlling the environment, especially in the bedroom is crucial to controlling dust mites. With a full understanding of the conditions dust mites thrive in and your dust mite allergy itself, you may be able to nage your allergies without the need for all of the medication.

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