What is a dust mite allergy
What is a dust mite allergy
Are you putting the sofa cushions right and after a while you feel itchy eyes or throat, sneeze, runny nose …? Surely, your body has overreacted to something as common as the dust that has been raised. This is the allergy. What varies are the symptoms it produces and its intensity.
What are mites?
What are mites?
Mites are microscopic little animals in the spider family that live in dust. They are between 0.2 and 0.5 millimeters in size, which makes it impossible for us to see them. 50,000 species of mites have been described, but it is believed that they could be double. Of course, only 25 are responsible for the allergy. Well, not even that, because the mites are not the ones that produce the allergic reaction, but their feces.
Does it happen to you? Look at your symptoms
Does it happen to you? Look at your symptoms
The symptoms are very varied, but you don't have to have them all, but one or more. It can manifest itself in the form of sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion, itchy throat, skin, eyes … The eyelids can also swell, itchy eyes and cough and notice "whistles" when breathing or missing the breath.
Which doctor do I go to if I have a mite allergy
Which doctor do I go to if I have a mite allergy
You can consult with your GP, who will probably refer you to an allergist. This will do a prick test, which consists of making small punctures on the arm to deposit small amounts of substances that can cause allergies (mites, pollen, food …). Normally, hives grow in the place where the allergen that caused the reaction has been deposited.
Which is the treatment
Which is the treatment
The first thing that is recommended is to have as little contact as possible with them, that is, to extreme the cleaning of your home to end them. To relieve symptoms, your doctor may give you antihistamines, decongestants, nasal sprays, or eye drops. Depending on the cases, it may recommend that you get vaccinated.
What is the vaccine?
What is the vaccine?
Vaccines consist of administering a small amount (gradually increasing) of the allergen to which we are sensitive. Thus, little by little, the body gets used to the allergen and no longer reacts against it. The administration of these doses is done regularly for 3 to 5 years, but after 3 or 4 months a decrease in symptoms is already noted. It can be administered with a prick (subcutaneously) or by putting a few drops under the tongue (sublingually).
Eating relieves your symptoms
Eating relieves your symptoms
More than fighting allergies, they help reduce symptoms. They are foods rich in vitamins A, B, C and E and fatty acids such as omega 3. In other words, include in your diet vegetables such as endive or spinach, fruits such as bananas or oranges, cereals and fish such as salmon or horse mackerel.
Where are mites found?
Where are mites found?
They live in the dust that accumulates on furniture, curtains, carpets, upholstery … One of their favorite habitats is the bedroom, where mattresses and pillows colonize. And no, they are not there for lack of cleanliness, do not get obsessed.
Lower the temperature
Lower the temperature
Mites love warm, humid environments. Therefore, the ideal is that your house has a temperature of about 20 ° C and a low humidity (below 45% humidity) the mites disappear completely. In addition, there are air purifying devices that help eliminate mites and other allergens, such as pollens, chemicals in suspension, etc.
The sun kills them dead
The sun kills them dead
Raise the blinds and let the UV rays of the sun penetrate into your house because they are a first class acaricide. The heat from the sun helps regulate the humidity inside the home and prevents mites from spreading.
Ventilate the house
Ventilate the house
Another good way to keep mites at bay is to open the windows so the house can be ventilated. Do it for 20 minutes at least in the sunniest hour. This is how you regulate the humidity and temperature.
In decoration, less is more
In decoration, less is more
The less furniture and decorative objects you have at home, the less chance of dust accumulating and the easier it is to remove it. So avoid overloading the decoration of your house, especially in the bedroom, where you spend more hours.
Get rid of rugs
Get rid of rugs
They are elements of the decoration that accumulate a lot of dust. If your house is very cold and you cannot do without rugs, choose models that you can wash frequently. And if you wear slippers to be around the house, dispense with the fur and choose easily washable ones.
Bookstores, better with doors
Bookstores, better with doors
Books retain a lot of dust and, in addition, this is more difficult and time consuming to remove. Therefore, if you have an allergy to dust, it is better if the bookstores are closed and not have them in the room. But even in extreme cases do not stop reading, you can always do it with the ebook or mobile.
How to clean dust to remove mites
How to clean dust to remove mites
When dusting, put on a mask to avoid breathing the one that can be lifted and, also, do it with the windows open, so that it does not accumulate. In any case, it is better to use damp cloths, this way there is less airborne dust.
Vacuum cleaner, with HEPA filter
Vacuum cleaner, with HEPA filter
To combat dust mites, the vacuum cleaner must have a HEPA filter. Vacuum upholstery weekly (insist on seams), curtains, rugs, etc. And don't forget the walls and ceilings, where dust also collects.
Does the anti-mite spray work?
Does the anti-mite spray work?
Anti-mite sprays kill the mites, but by themselves they do not solve the problem, because the allergic reaction is produced by the mite feces - which they do not eliminate - and the dead mites themselves. Therefore, it has to be a combined action of the spray and then - after a few hours, when it has done its work - of the vacuum cleaner if what you spray is the bed mattress, the curtains, etc.
The bedroom, the greatest focus of risk
The bedroom, the greatest focus of risk
It's the room in the house where you spend the most hours: between 7 and 9 every night, or at least you should. Therefore, it is where you are most exposed to mites. On the surfaces of the bedside table, top of the cabinet, etc. a lot of dust accumulates. Not to mention the bedding and the mattress itself.
Choose the right mattress
Choose the right mattress
It is estimated that there may be 1.5 million mites in the mattress. Ideally, use a slatted bed base and an anti-mite mattress or, at least, covered with an anti-mite cover.
A single set of bedding
A single set of bedding
If you suffer from allergies, change the bedding twice a week. Ideally, you should have a single set of clothes, so you don't have to store it in the drawer, with the risk that it accumulates dust. It is wash, dry and put back on the bed. In addition, it is recommended to use anti-allergy bedding, which is made with natural fabrics with very small pores, which prevent mites from penetrating.
How to wash clothes to kill mites
How to wash clothes to kill mites
Both household and dress clothes should be washed at 60º - look at the label on the right, so that it offers this possibility - and then dry them in the dryer at more than 60º as well. If you don't have a dryer, do this by exposing your clothes to the sun and then ironing them on high heat and without using the steam option (you know, mites love humidity). There are washing machines on the market that incorporate a specific anti-mite option.
If my child has an allergy, how do I clean the stuffed animals?
If my child has an allergy, how do I clean the stuffed animals?
You have to wash them every week at 60º and dry them at high temperature. Dr. Clifford Bassett, from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology in the United States, recommends another method of cleaning stuffed animals that is to put them in a plastic bag and freeze them for 5 hours.
Pets, better in the garden
Pets, better in the garden
We are sorry to say this, but it is best not to have pets if you have an allergy to mites, because they feed on the hair, dander and dead cells of both animals and humans. In case of having them, the ideal is that they live in the garden and enter little inside the house. And if this is not possible either, extreme cleanliness of both the pet and the house must be done.
Allergy is an excessive reaction of our immune system to substances that in principle should not affect it and are usually substances with which we have frequent contact, such as, in this case, mites that live in dust. Because, fool yourself, dust is a recurring nightmare: no matter how much you clean, it is a boomerang that always comes back.
What are mites?
Mites are microscopic little animals in the spider family that live in dust. They are between 0.2 and 0.5 millimeters in size, which makes it impossible for us to see them. 50,000 species of mites have been described, but it is believed that they could be double.
Of course, only 25 of these 50,000 species are responsible for the allergy. Well, in fact, not even that, because the mites themselves are not the ones that produce the allergic reaction, but rather their feces that affect us.
Where are mites found?
They live in the dust that accumulates on furniture, curtains, carpets, upholstery … One of their favorite habitats is the bedroom, where mattresses and pillows colonize. They are concentrated in the bedrooms; especially in mattresses and pillows.
And no, they are not there for lack of cleanliness, do not be obsessed, it is that dust is a very difficult enemy to fight.
What are the symptoms of a mite allergy?
The symptoms are very varied, but you don't have to have them all, but one or more. It can manifest itself in the form of sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion, itchy throat, skin, eyes … The eyelids can also swell, itchy eyes and cough and notice "whistles" when breathing or missing the breath.
What doctor do I see if I think I have an allergy?
You can consult with your GP, who will probably refer you to an allergist.
How is a mite allergy cured?
The first thing that is recommended is to have as little contact as possible with them, that is, to extreme the cleaning of your home to end them.
To relieve symptoms, your doctor may give you antihistamines, decongestants, nasal sprays, or eye drops. Depending on the cases, it may recommend that you get vaccinated.
When to get vaccinated for mite allergy
If it is difficult for you to get rid of dust in your environment, because, for example, you work in a place with many books - large accumulators of dust - or when the symptoms are increasingly intense and reduce the quality of life. And it is usually recommended especially in case of asthma or heart problems.
How is the dust allergy vaccine
Vaccines consist of administering a small amount (gradually increasing) of the allergen to which we are sensitive. Thus, little by little, the body gets used to the allergen and no longer reacts against it.
The administration of these doses is done regularly for 3 to 5 years, but after 3 or 4 months a decrease in symptoms is already noted. It can be administered with a prick (subcutaneously) or by putting a few drops under the tongue (sublingually).
Normally, after the administration of a dose of vaccine, it is recommended to wait a while in the consultation to rule out a reaction to it. But it is true that sometimes, after the dose, there may be a rash on the skin, itching, cough, low blood pressure … If they occur, the doctor usually recommends medicines to relieve these symptoms.
Is allergy to dust very common?
Yes, it is estimated that mites are responsible for the majority of allergic reactions in and that they affect 1 in 2 allergic patients.
Is allergy to mites dangerous?
Sensitization to dust mites leads to more asthma than pollen allergy, for example. According to allergist Pilar Cots, author of the blog Allergia al día, "pollens predominate at very specific times of the year and only outdoors, so the time we breathe them is shorter, compared to house dust.
It is not a seasonal allergy, but there are more outbreaks in spring and fall
The explanation is in the weather. Mites need a temperate and humid climate to survive, hence they proliferate, especially in spring and autumn. However, this does not mean that it is a seasonal allergy, since mites in one quantity or another are always present in the environment, also in winter and summer.
Is it true that the maritime climate alleviates the allergy to dust?
No, it is a myth. As Dr. Cots explains, “in coastal areas, the presence of mites is very high since there are the right conditions for them to live. On the contrary, in inland areas, where the climate is drier, allergy to dust is practically non-existent ”.
How to eliminate mites from our home: Regulate temperature and humidity
Mites love warm, humid environments. Therefore, the ideal is that your house has a temperature of about 20 ° C and a low humidity (below 45% humidity) the mites disappear completely. In addition, there are air purifying devices that help eliminate mites and other allergens, such as pollens, chemicals in suspension, etc.
The sun, the best anti-mite
Raise the blinds and let the UV rays of the sun penetrate into your house because they are a first class acaricide. The heat from the sun helps regulate the humidity inside the home and prevents mites from spreading.
Ventilate the house
Another good way to keep mites at bay is to open the windows so the house can be ventilated. Do it for 20 minutes at least in the sunniest hour. This is how you regulate the humidity and temperature.
In decoration, less is more
The less furniture and decorative objects you have at home, the less chance of dust accumulating and the easier it is to remove it. So avoid overloading the decoration of your house, especially in the bedroom, where you spend more hours.
Get rid of rugs
They are elements of the decoration that accumulate a lot of dust. If your house is very cold and you cannot do without rugs, choose models that you can wash frequently. And if you wear slippers to be around the house, dispense with the fur and choose easily washable ones.
Bookstores, better with doors
Books retain a lot of dust and, in addition, this is more difficult and time consuming to remove. Therefore, if you have an allergy to dust, it is better if the bookstores are closed and not have them in the room. But even in extreme cases do not stop reading, you can always do it with the ebook or mobile.
How to clean dust to remove mites
When dusting, put on a mask to avoid breathing the one that can be lifted and, also, do it with the windows open, so that it does not accumulate. In any case, it is better to use damp cloths, this way there is less airborne dust.
Vacuum cleaner, with HEPA filter
To combat dust mites, the vacuum cleaner must have a HEPA filter. Vacuum upholstery weekly (insist on seams), curtains, rugs, etc. And don't forget the walls and ceilings, where dust also collects.
Does the anti-mite spray work?
Anti-mite sprays kill the mites, but by themselves they do not solve the problem, because the allergic reaction is produced by the mite feces - which they do not eliminate - and the dead mites themselves. Therefore, it has to be a combined action of the spray and then - after a few hours, when it has done its work - of the vacuum cleaner if what you spray is the bed mattress, the curtains, etc.
The bedroom, the greatest focus of risk
It's the room in the house where you spend the most hours: between 7 and 9 every night, or at least you should. Therefore, it is where you are most exposed to mites. A lot of dust accumulates on the surfaces of the bedside table, top of the cabinet, etc. Not to mention the bedding and the mattress itself.
Choose the right mattress
It is estimated that there may be 1.5 million mites in the mattress. Ideally, use a slatted bed base and an anti-mite mattress or, at least, covered with an anti-mite cover.
A single set of bedding
If you suffer from allergies, change the bedding twice a week. Ideally, you should have a single set of clothes, so you don't have to store it in the drawer, with the risk that it accumulates dust. It is wash, dry and put back on the bed. In addition, it is advisable to use anti-allergy bedding, which is made with natural fabrics with very small pores, which prevent mites from penetrating.
How to wash clothes to kill mites
Both household and dress clothes should be washed at 60º - look at the label on the right, so that it offers this possibility - and then dry them in the dryer at more than 60º as well. If you don't have a dryer, do this by exposing your clothes to the sun and then ironing them on high heat and without using the steam option (you know, mites love humidity). There are washing machines on the market that incorporate a specific anti-mite option.
If my child has an allergy, what do I do with stuffed animals?
You have to wash them every week at 60º and dry them at high temperature. Dr. Clifford Bassett, from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology in the United States, recommends another method of cleaning stuffed animals that is to put them in a plastic bag and freeze them for 5 hours.
Pets, better in the garden
We are sorry to say this, but it is best not to have pets if you have an allergy to mites, because they feed on the hair, dander and dead cells of both animals and humans. In case of having them, the ideal is that they live in the garden and enter little inside the house. And if this is not possible either, extreme cleanliness of both the pet and the house must be done.
