For most people, while they are disgusting, house dust mites are not actually harmful. However, the medical significance of house dust mites arises because their microscopic cast skins and feces are a major constituent of house dust that induces allergic reactions in some individuals.
There is a genetic predisposition to dust mite allergies, but like many allergies it can also develop over time. According to Darryl C. In other words, high levels of dust mites and their wastes, can cause previously non-allergic people to develop an allergy. In addition to producing allergic reactions, dust mites can also cause nasal polyps growths within the nose see this article at 24 Medica.
The constituents of house dust are show in the following figure:. For those individuals, inhaling the house dust allergen triggers rhinitis allergica or bronchial asthma. People with allergies to house dust usually also have allergic reactions to house dust mite fecal material and cast skins. Studies have shown that the most potent house dust allergens can be extracted from the feces produced by dust mites.
Other important allergen-producing organisms that are found in house dust are found in Figure 1. The rest of this fact sheet, based on Chapter 10, "Mites," in Common-Sense Pest Control by Olkowski, Daar and Olkowski, will discuss biology of dust mites and will emphasize non-chemical control tactics.
An allergist, a medical doctor specially trained to treat allergies, should be consulted for proper diagnosis and treatment of allergies.
One of the most strongly allergenic materials found indoors is house dust, often heavily contaminated with the fecal pellets and cast skins of House Dust Mites. Estimates are that dust mites may be a factor in 50 to 80 percent of asthmatics, as well as in countless cases of eczema, hay fever and other allergic ailments.
Common causes of allergy include house dust mites, cat dander, cockroach droppings and grass pollen. Symptoms are usually respiratory in nature sneezing, itching, watery eyes, wheezing, etc.
However, there are reports of a red rash around the neck. Other allergic reactions may include headaches, fatigue and depression. The wheeze-inducing proteins are digestive juices from the mite gut which are quite potent.
An exposure to the mites in the first, crucial year of life can trigger a lifelong allergy. There is no cure, only prevention. One must control house dust mite levels. The protein substances in the dust mite feces produces antibodies in humans who are allergic when these are inhaled or touch the skin. These antibodies cause the release of histamines which causes to nasal congestion, swelling and irritation of the upper respiratory passages.
A doctor can use skin tests and blood tests to confirm a suspected dust mite allergy. Diego Saporta, an otolaryngologist in Elizabeth, N. Do I often wake up with scratchy eyes? Do I sneeze repeatedly first thing in the morning?
Saporta says. Walking over a rug, sitting down in a chair, or shakings the bed clothes, makes the dried dust mite feces become airborne, making allergic person's symptoms worse.
House dust mites, are too small to be visible to the naked eye; they are only to microns in length and have translucent bodies. It takes at least a 10X magnification to be able to correctly identify them. The adult mite's cuticle covering has simple striations that can be seen from both the dorsal top view and from the ventral bottom view. The ventral view of the house dust mite reveals long setae hairs extending from the outer margins of the body and shorter setae on the rest of the body.
Through the microscope, one will see many oval-shaped mites scuttling around and over one another. There are eight hairy legs, no eyes, no antennae, a mouthpart group in front of the body resembles head and a tough, translucent shell, giving a "fearsome appearance.
Adult females lay up to 40 to 80 eggs singly or in small groups of three to five. After eggs hatch, a six-legged larva emerges. After the first molt, an eight-legged nymph appears. After two nymphal stages occur, an eight-legged adult emerges. The life cycle from egg to adult is about one month with the adult living an additional one to three months.
The diet is varied with the primary food source, consisting of dander skin scales from humans and animals. However, needed nutrients can be provided from fish food flakes, pet food, fungi, cereals, crumbs, etc. Many mite species live in bird's nests, in barns, among stored grain, straw, etc. House dust mites are cosmopolitan in distribution with much of the research previously done in Europe. One of the major limiting factors in mite survival and population development is the availability of water for sorption.
Highest mite densities occur in the humid summer months and lowest in drier winter periods. Due to the large quantity of skin scales sloughed off daily by humans, mites have an abundant food supply.
Dust mite antigen levels are measured in bed dust, floor dust, and room air samples. Detection in room air was best during cleaning and bed-making activities.
House dust mite presence is often suspected before they are actually seen and accurately identified. Requests for control often come from individuals who have been diagnosed by medical personnel as allergic to the house dust mite or the allergens produced.
The presence of house dust mites can be confirmed microscopically which requires collecting samples from mattresses, couches or carpets. Also, it requires the use of a microscope with sufficient magnification and the technical ability to recognize house dust mites under the microscope. In general practice, testing is unnecessary. They virtually always show up in a test, so testing just adds expense.
A better question than "are dust mites present? Freezing and then washing soft toys can also help remove dust mites. Specifically, leaving toys overnight in a sealed bag in the freezer will kill the dust mites, and washing them in hot water will remove their bodies. Washing clothes and linens using the hot wash setting will also help remove dust mites. Allergen-proof covers are available for comforters and pillows that are not suitable for regular washing. These are available for purchase online.
According to the AAFA , studies suggest that more dust mites live in the bedroom than anywhere else in the home. They go on to suggest that the bedroom is the best place to start when trying to prevent infestations of dust mites. As dust mites mostly eat the dead skin that makes up household dust, infrequent dusting can make a home welcoming to dust mites. Therefore, regular dusting can lower the number of dust mites living in the home, as it removes their food source.
When cleaning, try dusting decorations first to give the dust time to settle on the floor before vacuuming. Also, always use a damp cloth to dust, as dry dusting can move the dust into the air.
Controlling humidity can also help prevent dust mites. Dust mites transfer air and water through their body walls and are subject to desiccation at low humidity. This means that they literally dry up and die.
Well-ventilated homes in dry climates contain fewer dust mites than those in less ventilated and more humid climates. Therefore, investing in a dehumidifier could help ease the symptoms of a dust mite allergy.
Dehumidifiers are available for purchase online. Dust mites do not survive in extreme temperatures. People should also try to clean the air conditioner filters regularly to prevent or reduce the spreading of dust mites.
On the other end of the temperature scale, one study suggests that using an electric blanket each night could help prevent dust mite infestations.
The following table looks at the main differences between dust mites and bedbugs. Regularly cleaning the home can help alleviate the symptoms of dust mite allergies and prevent large numbers of dust mites. Allergies can be serious, especially in those with asthma, so it is important to see an allergist or doctor for advice if symptoms persist or become unbearable. Bed bugs are a common problem in the United States and elsewhere.
There are different ways of getting rid of them. Find out how to eliminate a bed bug…. An allergic reaction can cause tiredness, as can other allergy symptoms and medications.
Here, learn how this happens and how to treat the fatigue. Do dust mites bite? No matter how clean a home is, dust mites cannot be completely eliminated. However, the number of dust mites can be reduced by doing the following.
Use the browser controls to adjust the font size, or print this page. Further Reading For Educators. American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. Allergy Immunotherapy. J Allergy Clin Immunol 3 :
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