Dust mite allergy

Definition

An allergy is hypersensitivity to a foreign substance, an allergen. This is usually harmless in itself, but the immune system reacts with an excessive inflammatory reaction, which can lead to symptoms. Contrary to what the name might suggest, house dust mite allergy is neither an allergy to house dust per se nor to house dust mites. Rather, the body reacts to substances that are increasingly found in the faeces of house dust mites. This is contained in normal house dust and can cause allergic symptoms when inhaled, but also when it comes into direct contact with the skin.

What are house dust mites?

Dust mites are small arachnids that cannot be seen with the naked eye. Here in Germany, the European mite (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus) and the American mite (Dermatophagoides farinae) are of particular importance. The mites are harmless. They can be found in every household and are not a sign of poor hygiene. The animals live in house dust, and since they mainly feed on dander, mold and flour particles, they are usually found in mattresses, upholstery, pillows, carpets and other textiles in the home. This is where the skin flakes that we lose every day collect.
They prefer to live at 25°C and a humidity of 65-80%. They therefore multiply mainly in the summer months and die off again in autumn when the temperatures drop. The feces they excrete contain substances to which many people can be allergic. Since mites die off in autumn, these substances are increasingly released, which means that people who suffer from house dust mite allergies have the most symptoms during this time. In addition, the air heated by the heating rises and whirls up the house dust. This increases allergy-causing substances flying around in the air we breathe.

increase in allergies

More and more people suffer from allergies. The causes of this trend have not yet been thoroughly researched. One possible reason for the increase in house dust mite allergy is improved room sealing. Although heating costs can be saved in this way, the humidity in an insulated room also increases. Due to the airtight insulation from the outside world, there is less air exchange. For a house dust mite, high humidity is the ideal habitat.

symptoms

The type and severity of the condition depends on the amount of dust mite feces you come into contact with. Some of the signs of dust mite allergy are:

• Year-round allergic rhinitis: runny nose with clear secretion, sneezing
• Allergic conjunctivitis: redness of the eyes, itching and tearing
• Allergic bronchial asthma: Difficulty breathing due to narrowing of the airways, sometimes with acute shortness of breath
• Allergic cough with mucus
• Rash, itching or even hives

All of these symptoms usually get worse at night or in the morning right after getting up. In bed, you have the most direct contact with dust mites through your mattress, pillow and blanket.
It can be difficult to distinguish these symptoms from other allergic conditions. However, here are some factors to look out for:
Hay fever is caused by pollen. Depending on the type of pollen that caused the pollen, most of the symptoms are to be expected in spring or summer. The symptoms of a house dust mite allergy can occur all year round, but usually worsen in autumn. You can also pay attention to whether your complaints mainly occur outside or inside. Pollen fly outside, house dust indoors.
It is more difficult to differentiate the house dust mite allergy from other indoor allergies. These include, for example, an allergy to mold or animal hair. These also occur all year round.

Atopy

The house dust mite allergy belongs to the so-called atopic group of forms. This means that people with this allergy have an increased risk of developing another disease in this circle. These include:

• Bronchial asthma
• Atopic dermatitis/neurodermatitis (worsening of symptoms is also possible)
• Food allergies (nuts, soy, egg, wheat, milk protein, shellfish, fruit, etc.)

It is also possible that in the course of the allergy, especially without treatment, there will be a change in level, i.e. a change in the symptoms from the upper respiratory tract (sneezing, runny nose) to the lower respiratory tract (bronchial asthma). You can recognize bronchial asthma by coughing fits that do not occur with a cold and whistling breathing noises. In children, for example, bronchial asthma is caused by an allergy in three quarters of cases.

Diagnosis and doctor visit

To enable a diagnosis, your doctor will ask you some questions about the nature and extent of your symptoms. It is also relevant, for example, whether allergies are already known in your family or whether you have other allergies yourself. In addition, some tests are possible to find the causative allergen and rule out other allergies. This includes, for example, a skin test (prick test). In this test, various possible allergens are selected based on your symptoms and placed under the skin with the help of a small needle. Your immune system would respond to an allergen with an inflammatory response. Instead of coughing or sneezing, you are waiting for redness and swelling.

What can you do yourself against a dust mite allergy?

Unfortunately, you cannot change the cause of a house dust mite allergy. You need to see a doctor for this. However, there are many things you can do to relieve your symptoms.
In the case of an allergy, it is important to avoid or reduce the triggering substance. Unfortunately, it is not possible to avoid house dust completely. However, there are many ways to worsen the living conditions of house dust mites, thereby relieving the symptoms and possibly even reducing the amount of medication needed.

• Humidity Reduction Dust
  mites love humidity above 60%. Frequent airing allows air to circulate in the room. In addition, it makes sense to have a bed with legs to also allow air circulation under your mattress.
  The place of highest exposure: bedroom
  Your mattress serves as a haven for dust mites. It has not been shown that synthetic mattresses cause less discomfort, but it is better to avoid mattresses with animal hair, since allergies to them are also possible. It makes sense to use a protective cover ( encasing) for your mattress. This makes it difficult for house dust mites to get to your dander and reduces the passage of allergens from your mattress. These protective covers have different standards, whereby the acquisition costs are covered by many health insurance companies in the event of a proven house dust mite allergy.
• Wash your bedding
  Cotton bedding is best. This should be washed at 60°C to kill house dust mites. By airing the bedding well after sleeping, the moisture collected in the blanket is released. Duvets and pillows also contain dust mites. It can be useful to wash these regularly at 60°C. Children with house dust mite allergies should avoid stuffed animals in bed if possible. It is important to know that vacuuming textiles alone is not sufficient against house dust mites, as they can claw into them.
• Avoiding Dust While
  it’s not 100% possible to avoid dust, you can still control how much of it flies in the air. It helps to vacuum frequently, preferably with an integrated fine dust filter, and to make sure that the vacuum cleaner bag is not too full. When dusting, use a damp cloth rather than a feather duster. This partly wags the dust again, while a damp cloth absorbs most of it. Of course, you don’t want to change your entire setup. However, if you are going to buy a new piece of furniture anyway, it makes sense to consider the condition, for example in terms of wipeability, when making your selection.
• Avoid dust collectors
  Open shelves and heavy, unwashable curtains are dust collectors that you should avoid. It is also important to remove dust from the radiators before the autumn heating season begins.
• No plants in the bedroom
  Plants increase the humidity in a room. In addition, the potting soil offers a good breeding ground for mold. Both of these factors favor life for dust mites.
• Avoid other pollutants
  Try to expose yourself to as few pollutants as possible. This includes cigarettes in particular.

Therapy of house dust mite allergy

Dust mite allergy therapy can be divided into two categories: one treats the cause of the allergy, while the other deals with the symptoms.
Only a doctor can treat a house dust mite allergy. It is possible to have a so-called hyposensitization carried out. This can last up to 3 years and is particularly suitable for children or, for example, for a new allergy. During hyposensitization, the immune system is repeatedly confronted with the allergy-triggering substance. This leads to the fact that the hypersensitivity is gradually reduced.
Dust mite allergy symptoms can be relieved with a variety of medications. Depending on your symptoms, there are nasal sprays or eye drops, for example, to make everyday life easier. There is also the possibility of using so-called antihistamines. These drugs shut down the body’s overactive immune response, which also reduces symptoms. Since they are not a causal treatment, the symptoms reappear after the medication is stopped.
It is important to note that over-the-counter medications can also have pronounced side effects and interactions with other medications that you may already be taking. antihistaminescan cause fatigue, for example. You should therefore discuss with a doctor which medications are best for you.

Prevention of house dust mite allergy

There are many factors that influence the development of allergies. Some factors, such as genetic factors, are beyond your control. However, there are also many recommendations to reduce the risk of allergy:

• A balanced diet is recommended during pregnancy and lactation. Avoidance of potential food allergens has not been shown to be beneficial.
• If possible, infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first 4 months of life. If this is not possible, appropriate formula food should be used.
• In Germany it is recommended to introduce supplementary food from the 4th month of life. A delay to avoid allergies is not recommended.
• In children, obesity should be avoided to reduce the likelihood of bronchial asthma.
• Contact with tobacco smoke should be avoided. This also applies during pregnancy.
• There is evidence that vaccinations can reduce the risk of allergies. It is therefore recommended that children at risk should also be vaccinated according to the STIKO recommendations.

This is how Med-Healths can help with house dust mite allergies

At Med-Healths you have the opportunity to speak directly to a doctor about your symptoms. Through a personal consultation, a doctor can use Med-Healths to determine the likelihood of you having a dust mite allergy in order to provide you with the best possible further treatment. Not only do we have the option of issuing you with a referral for an allergy test, we can also, if it makes sense, issue you with a direct prescription to alleviate your symptoms.