House dust allergy

What is a "house dust allergy"?

Nowadays the house dust mite represents the second most frequent allergy trigger (ca 25% of all allergies). The house dust mite allergy is to oversensitivity against the tiny, protein-containing excrement bunions of the mites. These proteins are with the excrement small heaps and dust by movements of textiles, shaking the blanket out e.g. or due to the draft e.g. in the context of vacuuming, whirled up and reach the respiratory tract, it can so at determined, sensitized 2 people trigger an allergic reaction to it whereupon the typical symptoms of an allergy come to mind. Contrary to the widespread view, so the mites aren't the allergy triggers but the excrement produced by it which contains allergisierende substances even in our mattresses. House dust doesn't of work ace allergy triggering substance (allergenic) either, accepted how many times.

Unlike pollen house dust mites are available in our surroundings throughout of the whole year. To allergy against house dust mites is therefore that described ace whole annual allergy. Thely well-disposed towards by of domestic animals to increase of a the house dust mites is caused, caused by the additional food and athmospheric humudity. Mites live cushions in textilen objects quite particularly into mattresses and cover up (everywhere where it is warm and damp!), but also in garments! Is dropped at a two years old pillow which isn't washed to C at least every four weeks at 60°Crox. a tenth of the weight on living and dead mites and its secretions! In connection with this, it turns out that the height of the washing temperature of decisive importance is. Mites die only at a washing temperature of approx. 58 degrees Celsius at an at least one-hour stage of the washing program. This has to be taken into account both for the choice of the bedding and at the everyday clothes! Lower washing temperatures require a special mite killing washing addition to get the desired effect.

Portrait of the house dust mite

House dust mites are microscopically little arachnids approx. (0.1- 0.5 mm). Two types are particularly important to the emergence of allergies: the so-called dermatophagiodes pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farinae. You live on human and what her name also expresses, animal Hautabschilferungen, (derma = skin; phagein = eat). You live in every household up to 1500 meters over the sea-level. Mountains be into Thely high, wavy aces are high tell most mites to atmospheric humidity from 65 to 80. there where we lose most shacks and hair Thi Means more than 1.500 meters of hardly House dust mites can be found and found by cent their optimal conditions of life at 20 to 30 degree centigrade ace: in beds, cushion and blankets, clothes, upholstered furniture, carpets and natural in the sleep places of the domestic animals. Man loses on the day approx. 1.5 g of skin shack enough to get 1.5 million of these tiny little animals repletely. In the apartment the mattress is this in bed the place primarily, at which hold back themselves many mites: It offers sufficient food in the form of human skin shacks and hair. Moreover, it guarantees humidity and warmth. About 10 000 mites live on average in a bed. Since we spend approximately a third of the day in bed, we have opportunity to get in contact with the allergens of the house dust mites. The main increase time of the house dust mites lies May until October within the months. With the beginning of the heating period and the removal connected with that of the relative atmospheric humidity the largest portion of the mites dies. The maximum set of feces has, however, accumulated now so that the troubles are the greatest for the house dust mite person suffering from an allergy at this time.

Which symptom 5 is there?

  • Sneezing attacks and duration cold with strong watery secretion ion and blocked nose by swelling up the muscous membranes
  • Conjunctivitis itching, eyes which are reddened and watering and photosensitivity increased
  • Asthma amounts (amount like, serious difficulty in breathing with narrowing of the respiratory tract) These hay fever similar troubles get typically stronger after waking up at night or in the morning. The complaint maximum will show itself the symptoms, reached that is toward end or at the beginning of the heating period, however, at a damp and warm weather over the whole year. The strength of the symptoms seems to depend on the set of mites and its secretions.

Diagnosis position

  • With the symptoms which the patient describes (case history), i.e. primarily where and when the troubles appear.
  • Skin tests (primarily scratch test)
  • Antibody proof from a blood test
Everyday tips for house dust people suffering from an allergy

primarily important to §: the sleep area:
  1. Mattresses which are older than eight year should be exchanged.
  2. Since mites don't make any difference between different mattress fillings (e.g. foam material or feather nuclear mattresses), special mites and allergen thick covers (Encasings) represent the only real solution for the mattresses, pillow and quilts: it is a cover which holds the allergens back inside so that one has no more contact with the allergens (acquisition is taken on by the health insurance companies in individual cases.)
  3. Quilt, pillows and bedlinen should be washable at 95 C at least however at 60 C (only at this temperature die mites for certain!). Also wanting to be able alternatively provide quilts/pillow with Encasings.
  4. Pay attention to a sufficient ventilation under mattress and bed!
  5. Carpeting should be banished completely at least from the sleep area.
  6. Only heating sleep area little or not at all.
  7. Not using sleep area for other activities.
  8. not letting any animals to the sleep area.
  9. Do in the bedrooms without dust collectors! Velours, curtains are included (improve: Bookshelves, potted plants and others, open window shades or light curtains which you frequently clean or can wash)
  10. Cuddling animals of children can be freed from mites by a visit of several days in the chest freezer. Washable cuddling animals are alternative (at least 60 C).
  11. The room temperature should always mean much to C at 18-20 ° air well and keep dry all rooms
  12. Carpets and carpetings as well as upholstered furniture should cleaned regularly and at least every 3 months with so-called "akariziden means" (in the pharmacy available) be cleaned.
  13. Holz- und Ledermöbel sind unproblematisch. Mites don't find any day room here and one can often wipe them off damply.
  14. Fit the rooms out with furniture as few as possible so that little dust which carries the allergens due to the air can accumulate.
  15. In the choice of the vacuum cleaners one should pay attention to equipment with special fine dust filters or water filters. Not leaving the filter bags longer than 14 to 21 day in the vacuum cleaner.
  16. As vacation areas regions recommend themselves for house dust people suffering from an allergy more than 1,200 meters of height.
  17. Do without smoking in the apartment.
  18. And dust pieces of paper should leave you to a not allergic person or use a breathing mask the vacuum.
  19. Air cleaners are recommended with ULPA filter to the further reduction of the interior allergens.
  20. In some difficult cases you must do without domestic animals!

Medicinal treatment

  • Antihistaminic(spray, tablets, drops)
  • Antiallergic eye drops
  • Nose drops going down (at most ten days long)
  • Mast cell antiroll bars (cromoglicic acid)
  • Cortison (spray, tablets)
  • Beta Sympathomimetic (short effective)

Hyposensitization

You suffer from a serious house dust mite allergy, the so-called "hyposensitization therapy" an acclimatization health cure can so be helpful. At this treatment the allergen is injected to you in doses increasing slowly under the skin over a period of at least three years. At success the body gets used to the allergen and the allergic troubles disappear. A Hyposensitization - therapy leads approximately at 70 per cent of the people suffering from an allergy for the success. The being carried out rate is still higher with younger people. The disadvantage of the method consists that no antiallergic medicine may be taken during the complete time of the Hyposensitization.


These informations may be considered a substitute for a piece of medical advice in no case. The content of health-illness.com doesn't can and may be put into any case to make diagnoses or carry out self medical treatment independently.


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