Dustmites: The Unseen Enemy

What are dust mites?

Dust mites are tiny, eight-legged arachnids of the spider family measuring less than a fraction of a millimetre in size and are the major cause of allergic reactions.

House dust mites survive on shed human skin scales. As these mites digest their food, they produce potent allergens which are released in their fecal pellets (droppings). Inhaling these microscopic pellets and parts of dead mites provokes allergic symptoms such as nasal congestion, itching, watery eyes, sneezing and asthma.

Beds are their prime habitat and we spend 1/3 of our life with them. A typical mattress may have up to 10 million mites inside. Ten percent of the weight of a two year old pillow can be composed of dead mites and their droppings. Mites prefer warm, moist surroundings such as the inside of a mattress when someone is on it.

Although mattresses and bed covers at home are the major sources of mite, wall –to-wall carpeting, central heating, bedding, upholstered furniture, wallpaper and especially stuffed toys provide ideal conditions for dust mites to multiply.

How to Recognize Symptoms of Allergies to Dust Mites

Human allergy is produced by antibodies to the protein substances found in dust mites and its feces. When inhaled or in contact with the skin the mite causes the release of histamines and other chemicals which result in eye and nose congestion and lung swelling and irritation.
Typical symptoms of an allergy to house dust mites include some or all of the following: hay fever, watering eyes, runny nose, itching, sneezing, asthma, difficulty in breathing and infantile eczema.

What can you do?

While avoidance measures should always be the first line of treatment, new studies point towards a combination of avoidance measures with mite-specific immunotherapy.

Here are some simple steps to help creating a dust mite free home:

• Reduce exposure to house dust mites by covering pillow, mattress, box spring and duvets with Allergy Canada Ltd dust-mite proof encasings.
• Remove carpets and underpads. Use washable scatter rugs.
• Wet your mop and vacuum frequently with a good HEPA or central vacuum.