Dust Mite Allergies: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment
People are affected by all kinds of allergens. Some of us need to avoid pollen and dust; others can’t be around dogs or cats. But no matter what you’re allergic to, allergy symptoms can interfere with daily activities and reduce your quality of life.
Click below to learn more about each type of allergen.
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DUST MITE ALLERGIES
Dust mites are tiny organisms that are barely visible to the naked eye — but even though we often can’t see dust mites, many of us have these microscopic creatures living in our homes.
Dust mite allergies are extremely common. In fact, dust mites and their waste products are one of the major causes of year-round allergy symptoms in the United States, and around 20 million Americans have a dust mite allergy.i, ii
The good news is that dust mite allergy symptoms can be treated. Learn more about the causes, symptoms and treatment options for dust mite allergies below.
DUST MITE ALLERGY CAUSES
Dust mites are very small creatures, measuring only ⅓ to ¼ of a millimeter. When viewed through a microscope, they appear as white, eight-legged bugs.ii
They live best in warm conditions of around 68°F to 77°F with humidity levels of 70 to 80 percent, making the average home a perfect spot for dust mites to thrive. Since they mostly feed off tiny flakes of human skin that we naturally shed each day, dust mites are often found in places in the home where dust containing skin flakes is more likely to be found – including mattresses, pillows, carpets and rugs.i, ii
It may surprise you to learn that dust mites themselves are not allergens – it’s their waste products, including their feces, which circulate in the air as part of household dust and trigger allergic reactions.ii
A dust mite can produce up to 200 times its body weight in waste throughout its life, and these waste particles can be easily stirred up into the air when someone vacuums, cleans, or moves the carpet or bedding where they have settled.i, ii
Just like any other type of allergy, such as pet dander or pollen, if you are allergic to dust mites, your immune system will react to these particles by releasing substances into your bloodstream to try and combat them. These substances then bring on allergy symptoms.iii
DUST MITE ALLERGY SYMPTOMS
An allergy to dust mites may produce a range of allergy symptoms, including:i, iv
- Sneezing
- Runny or stuffy nose (nasal congestion)
- Red or itchy, watery eyes
- Red, itchy rash or hives (rare)
Dust mite allergies may also cause bronchial asthma after chronic exposure to dust mites. Symptoms of bronchial asthma include cough, wheezing or difficulty breathing.
Learn more about different common allergy symptoms.
DIAGNOSING DUST MITE ALLERGIES
If you think you may have a dust mite allergy, speak to your doctor so that they can properly diagnose the cause of your symptoms. They will use one of two common methods to determine whether or not you are allergic to dust mites:v
- Skin prick test – this involves placing a drop of the potential allergen (dust mite particles) on the skin and scratching the spot with a needle. If the test site becomes red or swollen within 20 minutes, it indicates that you may have an allergy.
- Skin prick test – if you don’t want to or can’t have a skin prick test performed, you can instead have blood drawn and sent to a laboratory to be tested. The allergen will be added to your blood sample, and the amount of antibodies your blood produces to attack the allergen will be measured to test for an allergy.
A positive result from either test doesn’t necessarily mean that you have a dust mite allergy, but it can give your doctor more information to help them craft a diagnosis of your symptoms.v
DUST MITE ALLERGY TREATMENT OPTIONS
If you do have a dust mite allergy, there are a number of simple ways that you can reduce the level of dust mite particles in your home. While it may not be possible to eliminate them completely, you can try these tips to help minimise the chance of a reaction, or to get some effective relief from your allergy symptoms:i
- Get some over-the-counter allergy relief – allergies can make it difficult to get on with your day, but an OTC medication like FLONASE Allergy Relief Spray and other products in the FLONASE range can help give you some relief from even your worst allergy symptoms, including nasal congestion, plus sneezing, itchy, watery eyes*, and runny nose.
- Get some over-the-counter allergy relief – you can use these types of pillow and mattress cases to help minimise dust mite waste in your bedroom. Remember to wash your bedding and cushions regularly using hot water.
- Get some over-the-counter allergy relief – use a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter in your bedroom or other parts of the house to reduce dust mite particles.
- Get some over-the-counter allergy relief – be sure to vacuum and clean regularly to avoid dust mite waste particles building up around your home. Ideally, someone in your household who is not allergic to dust mites should do the cleaning, to avoid a reaction to dust particles that are stirred up during the process.
- Get some over-the-counter allergy relief – since dust mites thrive in humid environments, a dehumidifier can be a very effective tool in controlling them. Try to keep your home’s humidity level at below 55%.
- Get some over-the-counter allergy relief – when possible, reduce the amount of carpet used in your home.
*FLONASE SENSIMIST is indicated for itchy, watery eyes in adults and children 12 years of age and older.
Sources:
i. Dust allergy. American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. https://acaai.org/allergies/types/dust-allergy. Accessed 20/07/20.
ii. Dust mite allergy. Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. http://asthmaandallergies.org/asthma-allergies/dust-mite-allergy/. Accessed 20/07/20.
iii. Allergic rhinitis. Medline Plus. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000813.htm. Accessed 20/07/20.
iv. Dust mite allergy. European Centre for Allergy Research Foundation (ECARF). https://www.ecarf.org/en/information-portal/allergies-overview/dust-mite-allergy/. Accessed 20/07/20.
v. Dust mite allergy. Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. https://www.aafa.org/dust-mite-allergy/. Accessed 20/07/20.
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