Why dust mites are dangerous and how to get rid of them

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Perhaps they are the cause of your obsessive cough or even asthma.

Who are dust mites and where do they come from

Dust Mite Allergy dust mites are tiny whitish bugs no more than a third of a millimeter in size. They are too small to be seen with the naked eye. But if there is dust in your house, for example, under cabinets, in mattresses, carpets, upholstered furniture, bedding, be sure that there are mites in it with a high probability.

These arthropods reproduce best in temperatures of 20-25 ° C and 70-80% humidity - the same conditions found in most Dust Mites homes and apartments around the world. Humans, as neighbors of dust mites, are fine too: arthropods feed on the tiny flakes of human skin that we lose on a daily basis.

An adult drops Dust Mite Allergy up to 1.5 g of old epidermis every day. That's enough to feed a million ticks.

In general, we don't need old skin. And ticks are small, invisible, do not bite, do not penetrate into our body and are not parasites. So a person could get used to their neighborhood. If not for one annoying nuance.

Why are dust mites dangerous?

Waste products of dusty arthropods, as well as fragments of their bodies, are a powerful allergen of Dust Mites. When dusty air is inhaled, these particles get onto the mucous membrane of the nose and throat. In some people, the immune system reacts too violently to such dust - a reaction similar to the one that underlies seasonal allergies (hay fever) occurs.

But if hay fever makes itself felt only a few weeks a year, while this or that allergen plant is blooming, then dust mites are constantly present in the house. Thus, irritation of the mucous membrane becomes chronic. This not only leads to a constant runny nose, sneezing, nasal congestion, watery eyes, but also seriously increases the risk of nasal polyps, as well as painful inflammation of the middle ear (otitis media) and sinuses (sinusitis, frontal sinusitis, ethmoiditis, sphenoiditis). However, this is not all.

Dust mites are one of the most common causes of asthma.

The most common dust mite allergy sufferers are Dust mite allergy. Symptoms and Causes children and young people. But the rest are not immune from this dangerous nuisance.

How to recognize a dust mite allergy

Here are some signs that suggest that your home is full of dust and its inhabitants. An important point: these symptoms are Dust mite allergy. Symptoms and Causes haunt you all year round and diminish if you spend a lot of time outdoors or go somewhere else.

• Obsessive cough even though you have no cold.
• Stuffy nose.
• Runny nose.
• Regular itching in the nose, palate, throat.
• Bursting sensation, pressure in the sinuses.
• Red, watery eyes.
• Dark bags under the eyes.
• If we are talking about a child - the habit of rubbing the nose with the palm upward.

If chronic irritation of the mucous membrane begins to provoke the development of asthma, additional signs will appear:

• labored breathing;
• tightness in your chest, as if something prevents you from taking a deep breath;
• whistling or wheezing sounds when you exhale;
• sleep disorders associated with shortness of breath, snoring, coughing fits.

Symptoms like these are a sign that you need to consult a therapist. The doctor will conduct an examination and suggest that you take an allergen test in order to pinpoint the cause of mucosal irritation.

What to do if you are allergic to dust mites

The best way to get rid of allergies is to try to keep the ticks out of the house or to keep contact with them to a minimum. Unfortunately, this is not always possible. Therefore, your therapist will most likely prescribe a symptomatic Dust mite allergy for you. Diagnosis and Treatment treatment that includes:

• Antihistamines These drugs calm your immune system, making it less responsive to stimuli.
• Corticosteroids. These products come in the form of nasal sprays and help reduce mucosal irritation.
• Vasoconstrictor sprays - to reduce swelling in the nasal passages.
• Saline solutions for moisturizing the nasal mucosa. They help flush dried mucus and make breathing easier.

How to get rid of dust mites

Again, this is not always possible. Dust mites are tenacious, and there is no safe chemical insecticide that can relieve your home of their presence.

All you can do is try to reduce the number of mite populations in order to reduce the amount of allergens in the air. Here are some Dust mite allergy methods that work. Diagnosis and Treatment.

Monitor the humidity level in your home

Dust mites don't drink water like humans do. They absorb it from the air. If there is not enough moisture in the air, the mites die. That is why you will not find them Dust Mites in desert conditions.

To control the number of ticks, but at the same time not harm your own health, experts advise keeping the humidity in the house at 50%.

Special dehumidifiers or air conditioners will help to dehumidify the air. And to control the level of humidity - a hygrometer.

Wash your bedding at least once a week

It is best to do this in hot water, with a temperature of at least 55 ° C: in this case, you will save sheets, pillowcases, duvet covers not only from dust mites, but also from allergenic products left by them. If the manufacturer specifies that the fabric can only be washed in cool water, after washing, place the laundry in the dryer and keep it at least 15 minutes at a temperature of at least 55 ° C.

Alternatively, place the dirty laundry bag in the freezer for 24 hours before washing. Freezing will kill the mites. True, it will not remove allergens.

Use non-allergenic bedding covers

These dust covers are made of densely woven fabric. This prevents mites from penetrating the pillow or mattress.

Buy washable stuffed toys

Wash them in hot water once a month or two. And keep away from sleeping places.

Clean regularly

Try to keep dust out, especially in the bedroom. If you have a serious allergy, it is better to entrust dry cleaning (with a broom, vacuum cleaner), in which dust inevitably rises into the air, to someone else. For example, hire a cleaning company.

Get rid of carpets and other dust collectors

Carpeting creates a comfortable living environment for dust mites. The same applies to upholstered furniture, fabric blinds, curtains, stacks of old newspapers and magazines.

Install an air conditioner with an anti-allergy filter

The device will purify the air in the room. Just remember to change the filters regularly (in accordance with the instructions).