Complications
Many people cohabitate with dust mites quite happily, but others develop allergies to these mites, experiencing asthma, itching, hives, and occasional severe reactions to dust mite infestations. People should avoid hotels with bed mites.
Symptoms
They may include the following:
- runny or itchy nose
- postnasal drip
- itchy skin
- congestion
- sinus pressure (may cause facial pain)
- itchy, watery, or red eyes
- scratchy throat
- cough
- swollen, bluish-colored skin beneath the eyes
- trouble sleeping
Causes
It is because dust mites are allergens; they do not bite humans, but they do cause any kind of allergies to them. Sometimes, these allergies can become serious, and if you are an asthma patient, you need to be very careful because it can be pretty harmful to you.
Prevention
Dust mites can pose a serious threat to our health as an allergen, and have been proven to trigger asthma, especially in children and the elderly. Clinical trials conducted by Cytos Biotechnology [ 2], showed a direct correlation between dust mites in your home and triggered allergies.
Are dust mites good or bad?
What are the health effects of dust mites?
Do dust mites bite humans?
Do dust mites endanger your health?
How do you know if dust mites are on you?
SymptomsSneezing.Runny nose.Itchy, red or watery eyes.Nasal congestion.Itchy nose, roof of mouth or throat.Postnasal drip.Cough.Facial pressure and pain.More items...•
Should I be worried about dust mites?
Ongoing exposure to dust mites at home can impact the health of people with asthma and those who are allergic or sensitive to mites. These allergens can trigger mild to severe allergic symptoms and can be responsible for asthma attacks. A mild case may cause an occasional runny nose, watery eyes and sneezing.
Do dust mites crawl on you?
Although they may “hitchhike” on clothing, it is a myth that dust mites live on people. They feed primarily on dander, or flakes of dead skin that fall from humans and animals.
What happens if you inhale dust mites?
When you breathe in the waste products of dust mites, your immune system kicks into high gear, producing antibodies against the normally harmless substances. This overzealous immune response causes the symptoms associated with a dust mite allergy, such as sneezing and runny nose.
What kills dust mites naturally?
Use diatomaceous earth. Diatomaceous earth, known simply as DE, is a white powder that not only helps you prevent the spread but also helps you kill dust mites. All you have to do is sprinkle, wait, and then vacuum.
What kills dust mites?
Wash all sheets, blankets, pillowcases and bedcovers in hot water that is at least 130 F (54.4 C) to kill dust mites and remove allergens. If bedding can't be washed hot, put the items in the dryer for at least 15 minutes at a temperature above 130 F (54.4 C) to kill the mites.
How do I test my house for dust mites?
0:113:23Ventia™ Rapid Home Allergen Test for Dust Mites - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe easy-to-use Finn Tia kit contains everything you need to check the level of dust mite allergensMoreThe easy-to-use Finn Tia kit contains everything you need to check the level of dust mite allergens in your home in just 10 minutes to begin insert the plastic filter into the dust stream collector.
Do dust mites live in pillows?
Dust mites can infest all kinds of pillows -- feather, down, microfiber, or polyester foam.
How long do dust mites live?
Males dust mites can live over a month, while female dust mites can live up to 90 days. The reason why dust mites are so prevalent in people's homes is that they feed off of dead skin cells. On an average day, one person may shed 1.5 grams of dead skin cells, which can feed up to one million dust mites at a time.
Does every house have dust mites?
Every home, no matter how clean, houses dust mites. These tiny insects, about 0.4 millimeters in length, feed on flakes of human skin.
Can dust mites live in your lungs?
Van Woerden [24] proposed that asthma in house dust mite-sensitive patients may be caused by recurrent inhalation of live dust mites that are able to live for some time in the bronchioles of the lung.
How do I get rid of dust mites in my bedding?
One of the best ways to get rid of dust mites is to wash all of your bedding—including sheets, blankets, pillowcases, and duvet covers—on a hot cycle of at least 130 degrees. If your bedding does not permit a hot wash, you can also place them in the dryer for 15 minutes at 130 degrees.
Are dust mites common?
Dust mites may be the most common trigger of year-round allergies and asthma. They are on every continent except Antarctica. It may not be possible to rid your home entirely of these creatures.
How do I test my house for dust mites?
0:113:23Ventia™ Rapid Home Allergen Test for Dust Mites - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe easy-to-use Finn Tia kit contains everything you need to check the level of dust mite allergensMoreThe easy-to-use Finn Tia kit contains everything you need to check the level of dust mite allergens in your home in just 10 minutes to begin insert the plastic filter into the dust stream collector.
Do dust mites live in pillows?
Dust mites can infest all kinds of pillows -- feather, down, microfiber, or polyester foam.
Where do house dust mites come from?
Dust mites come from almost everywhere. They are naturally-occurring creatures, and their microscopic size makes it easy for them to get into homes and other indoor areas. Some homes have more dust mites than others, however.
What are the symptoms of dust mites?
Signs of dust mite allergy include those common to hay fever, such as sneezing and runny nose. Many people with dust mite allergy also experience signs of asthma, such as wheezing and difficulty breathing.
What do dust mites eat?
Dust mites eat organic matter such as skin cells people have shed, and rather than drinking water, they absorb water from humidity in the atmosphere. Dust also contains the feces and decaying bodies of dust mites, and it's the proteins present in this dust mite "debris" that are the culprit in dust mite allergy.
What does it feel like to have dust mites under your eyes?
Swollen, blue-colored skin under your eyes. In a child, frequent upward rubbing of the nose. If your dust mite allergy contributes to asthma, you may also experience: Difficulty breathing. Chest tightness or pain. An audible whistling or wheezing sound when exhaling.
What happens when you have allergies?
When you have allergies, your immune system makes antibodies that identify your particular allergen as something harmful, even though it isn't. When you come into contact with the allergen, your immune system produces an inflammatory response in your nasal passages or lungs. Prolonged or regular exposure to the allergen can cause the ongoing (chronic) inflammation associated with asthma.
Can dust mites cause a runny nose?
A dust mite allergy can range from mild to severe. A mild case of dust mite allergy may cause an occasional runny nose, watery eyes and sneezing. In severe cases, the condition may be ongoing (chronic), resulting in persistent sneezing, cough, congestion, facial pressure or severe asthma attack.
Can dust mites be seen without a microscope?
Dust mites, close relatives of ticks and spiders, are too small to see without a microscope. Dust mites eat skin cells shed by people, and they thrive in warm, humid environments. In most homes, such items as bedding, upholstered furniture and carpeting provide an ideal environment for dust mites. By taking steps to reduce the number ...
Can dust mites cause sinus infections?
Sinus infections. Ongoing (chronic) inflammation of tissues in the nasal passages caused by dust mite allergy can obstruct your sinuses, the hollow cavities connected to your nasal passages. These obstructions may make you more likely to develop infections of the sinuses (sinusitis). Asthma.
What are dust mites?
Dust mites are microscopic, insect-like pests that generate some of the most common indoor substances—or allergens—that can trigger allergic reactions and asthma in many people. Hundreds of thousands of dust mites can live in the bedding, mattresses, upholstered furniture, carpets or curtains in your home. They feed on the dead human skin cells ...
How Do Dust Mite Allergens Affect Health?
Mites are one of the major indoor triggers for people with allergies and asthma. 2
Where Do Dust Mites Come From?
Dust mites occur naturally and can appear in nearly all homes. Humidity is the most important factor in determining whether a house has high concentrations of dust mites. Dust mites do not drink water like we do; they absorb moisture from the air. In areas with low humidity, like deserts, dust mites cannot survive.
How to get rid of dust mites in bed?
Reduce the places where dust mites can grow. Remove some of the furniture or use furniture with smooth surfaces, eliminate drapes and curtains, and cover mattresses and pillows to reduce dust mites. Wash bedding in hot water once a week.
How to keep dust mites out of your house?
To minimize the growth of dust mites, keep your home below 50 percent humidity. In humid areas, air conditioning and dehumidifiers can help. On dry days, open your windows for one hour per day to help remove humidity from the house. 2. Reduce the places where dust mites can grow.
How long does it take for dust mites to settle?
Dust mite allergens settle within minutes into dust or fabrics, such as pillows, bedding or upholstered furniture, which serve as nests. Most exposure to dust mite allergens occurs while sleeping and when dust is disturbed during bed-making or other movements. 2.
How to reduce dust in your home?
Incorporating dusting into your regular cleaning routine can reduce the amount of dust and improve overall indoor air quality in your home. When dusting, use a damp mop, damp cloth or a duster that can trap and remove dust to reduce the amount of it that is stirred up when cleaning.
Why is it so hard to keep dust mites out of my house?
One of the reasons why it’s so hard to keep your house dust mites free is that they multiply quickly and that new dust is always being formed. This makes it difficult to maintain all the work you’ve done the week before. In some circumstances, you have to clean things every day. The point is that it’s hard but you have to make sure to clean and maintain the whole house this way.
Why do dust mites die in my bed?
This means not only changing your bedding regularly but also taking your mattress out and let it rest under the sun for a few hours. The reason is simple. Dust mites love cold temperatures and hate hot ones. They pretty much die in those circumstances.
How to get rid of dust mites on bedding?
Change the bedding regularly, cleaning everything to remove any sign of dust. Do this and use dust mites sprays to finish them off for good. The spray has chemicals that kill them faster and better that’s why the secret tip is to use this type of spray. The Premo Guard Mite Killer Spray is an excellent option since it not only gets the job done but leaves a good scent. Check it out on Amazon here.
How to make a room inhospitable to dust mites?
Now, you need to make the rooms in your house inhospitable to dust mites. You do this by controlling the temperature and the humidity of the room. You also do this by removing the thing they feed off from, dead skin cells. What you’re going to do is to make sure sunlight hits the room every day, and you clean everything.
Can dust mites cause respiratory problems?
Also, remember that dust mites cause respiratory symptoms as well. This means that if you’re sneezing, experiencing a running nose, or anything like that you’re likely to be experiencing an allergic reaction to dust mites.
Can you use dust mite spray on a mattress?
Now, what you’re going to do is not only to change the bedding and take the mattress out every once in a while, to sunbathe. You’re also going to use a dust mite spray that kills them and doesn’t cause any harm to your mattress fabric or foam. The best thing is that it’s easy to apply, and you can rest assured that it won’t damage your bed in any way.
Can dust mites be mistaken for bed bugs?
People mistake dust mites for bed bugs all the time. Let’s clarify that they’re not the same and that the solution will vary from one to the other. Both will cause skin rashes and dermatological problems. Still, the solution is different. Since you can see the bed bugs, all it takes to figure out it’s a thorough investigation in your bed.
Why are dust mites so common?
The reason why dust mites are so prevalent in people’s homes is that they feed off of dead skin cells. On an average day, one person may shed 1.5 grams of dead skin cells, which can feed up to one million dust mites at a time.
Where do dust mites live?
Dust mites make their homes in places where dead skin cells are most likely to accumulate, such as bedding, furniture, and carpeting. Rugs and stuffed animals also make good homes for dust mites.
What are the most common allergies and asthma triggers?
Dust mites are one of the most common allergy and asthma triggers that lurk inside your own home.
Why do dust mites make my skin red?
These are often red and itchy in nature. Allergic reactions to dust mites are common and typically caused by inhaling the mites’ skin and fecal matter materials. If you have a dust mite allergy, you may experience symptoms year-round.
How to get rid of dust mites on stuffed animals?
You don’t need any specialized products. You just need to make sure you wash bedding in hot water and use wet cloths that can properly trap dust when you clean.
How to prevent dust mites from entering bedding?
Use zippered mattress and pillow covers to prevent dust mites from entering your bedding.
What is the best treatment for dust mites?
Talk to your doctor about the following treatment options for dust mite allergies: Over-the-counter (OTC) antihistamines. These work by blocking histamine, which is released when your immune system encounters an allergen. Common antihistamines brands include Zyrtec, Claritin, Allegra, and Benadryl. Decongestants.
What happens if dust mites are not treated?
If a dust mite infestation is not treated properly, it can lead to wheezing, asthma attacks, and other health problems. This quick guide can help you learn more about the health dangers ...
Why Are Dust Mites So Common?
They are tiny bugs, barely a hundredth of an inch in length, looking like tiny specks of dust to the unaided eye. After they feed on small pieces of organic matter, like tiny flakes of dead skin, they produce microscopic particles of waste that can cause severe allergic reactions in sensitive people.
How to get rid of dust mites in your house?
If you must store unused clothes in your home, keep them clean and wrapped in plastic bags.
Why do mites cause sneezing?
The waste produced by mites contains a variety of allergens that can trigger sneezing, wheezing, inflamed skin, runny nose, red eyes, and itchiness. If your immune system is sensitive to these allergens, it “misreads” them as disease-causing germs and starts producing antibodies to fight them off. The resulting chemical reaction causes ...
How many mites are in a mattress?
Studies of home mattresses have shown that each gram of dust in them can contain more than 2,500 mites! Although vacuuming is a good way to keep your bedroom looking neat and tidy, it only encourages the dust mites by launching them into the air, giving them even more room to spread out and reproduce.
Can dust mites cause asthma?
The Hidden Health Dangers of Dust Mites. Although dust mites are tiny creatures, they can cause big trouble for people who suffer from asthma and allergic reactions. These microscopic bugs share living quarters with humans and animals, feeding on the invisible flakes of dead skin that are shed every day.
Do dust mites drop when replacing carpet?
When you replace carpets and rugs with hard floor surfaces, the dust mite population will almost certainly drop. They’re easier to clean and create an environment that is less-favorable to dust mites.
What are the symptoms of dust mites in children?
As a parent, it’s extremely important to look for signs of dust mite allergy in your child. Rashes, dry cough, labored breathing, mouth breathing, and eczema are a few (but not all) of the symptoms that can emerge from a reaction to dust mites.
Why is it difficult to breathe?
Asthma makes it challenging for individuals to achieve a full breath of air due to their airway being constricted.
Is dust mites harmful to humans?
Even worse, dust mites had been affecting my health in ways I never understood. In the sections below, I’ll share 3 ways dust mites can be dangerous to humans. I’ll also share why dust mites are not something the majority of households should worry about (in most cases they are harmless).
Is it dangerous to have dust mites?
For most individuals, dust mites aren’t dangerous, but they can be extremely problematic for the 20-25% of people who experience asthma attacks and allergies. Children should also be observed to make sure they aren’t unwittingly suffering from dust mite exposure.
Can dust mites cause asthma?
Having an asthma attack, especially your first one, can be a terrifying and life-threatening experience. Asthma is often triggered by allergies including the dust mite. They are a common cause of allergic asthma! Because dust mites live in bedrooms and in our beds, dust mites can be a constant threat to our health.
Can dust mites be removed from your house?
Even if you don’t experience allergies, it’s wise to clean up dust in your home on a regular basis. Removing dust from your house will definitely reduce dust mites. Unless you look under a microscope you’ll never see a dust mites but you can count on them living in your bed, in your carpets, and in your couch.
Is there a reason to worry about dust mites?
Therefore, 75-80% of the population doesn’t have a reason to worry about dust mites. Managing dust mite populations should be a natural part of our indoor cleaning routine.
How to see dust mites?
Dust mites are microscopic and that means you cannot see them with your naked eye. The only way to see them is by using a magnifying glass. Sometimes, you may not see the dust mites since they hide in places that are hard to find such as in deep layers of your mattress.
How long do dust mites live?
Depending on the humidity and temperatures, the life cycle of the dust mites takes between 19 to 30 days.
What do Dust Mites look like?
Dust mites are very small in size. They are less than 0.5mm in length; explaining why they are not visible to the naked eye. Their body is oval shaped, they are wingless, and their body is white colored with some fine stripes.
How many microns are dust mites?
While the female measure about 420 microns in length, the male dust mite has an approximate length of 320microns.
Why is my mattress the primary home for dust mites?
The mattress has most of the food that dust mites feed on. You spend a lot of time in bed at night. You therefore shed off a lot of dead skin unknowingly and it is the main source of food for dust mites. This explains why your bed is identified as the primary home for dust mites.
What are the most common indoor allergens?
Among the most common indoor allergens are the dust mites. Find out facts about what these microscopic organisms look like in pictures, where they come from and where they live, what they feed on and their general effects on humans and pets. Contents show.
Where are dust mites found?
Dust mites are naturally occurring. They are mostly found in areas of high humidity.
What Do Dust Mites Look Like?
Dust mites are small bugs that you may find in the household that you may not see with the naked eye. You will only be able to see them through the microscope because the size of these microscopic arthropods is 1/4 and 1/3 millimeters long. If you see them through the microscope, they will look …
Do Dust Mites Fly?
Dust mites can create a great nuisance in your house, especially to you and your loved ones. These microscopic pests are not visible to the naked eye and usually feed on dead skin cells or organic materials. Also, you should know that these insects can trigger allergy and asthmatic problems, which can deter your overall …
Are Dust Mites Harmful?
Dust mites are the most common insects that you would find in almost every house. These tiny creatures are not visible to the naked eyes. And people can only see them through a microscope. These mites usually feed on dead skin cells of humans and pets. They are more likely to favor the dark and …
How to get rid of dust mites?
Cut off their supply of food. This is the natural way to get rid of dust mites and their allergens. Protect your mattress, box spring, and pillows in special zippered dust mite-proof covers. This puts an allergen-proof barrier between you and the mites.
How long does X-mite keep dust mites away?
It is specifically designed to rid your carpeting and upholster furniture of harmful dust mite allergens and provide 90 days of allergy relief. Another side benefit of X-mite is it actually cleans while it denatures.
What is the purpose of de-mite wash?
The De-Mite is an additive that must be used in conjunction with your detergent to eliminate dust mites.
How often should I clean my home with dust catchers?
Dust catchers: Remove dust catchers and wipe down all hard surfaces at least every 7 days. When cleaning and dusting, everyone always has an aid they use to clean around the home. Personally, I like Allerdust Dusting Aid. It not only gets rid of dust mites but also helps with pet dander and mold.
Do dust mites die from sleeping on a pillow?
Their food supply will be limited to what is already in the bed or pillow. Slowly, over the years, they will die of starvation. From the first night you sleep on dust mite proof covers you get relief. You will not be exposed to the dust mites, their shed body parts, or their feces!
Do fibers collect dust mites?
Fibers give dust mites a hiding place and fibers collect food and trap moisture. Fiber surfaces are not easily cleaned. So, over time, more and more dust mite allergens collect in fibers. Removing dust mites from fabric surfaces requires a multi-prong approach.
Can dust mites cause asthma?
According to the Mayo Clinic s igns of dust mite allergy include those common to hay fever, such as sneezing and runny nose. Many people with dust mite allergy also experience signs of asthma, such as wheezing and difficulty breathing.
