Dust mite allergy

Dust Mite Allergy
Other names	House dust allergy
Specialty	Emergency medicine
Symptoms	Symptoms
Causes	Mite droppings
Treatment	Cutting down mite numbers

A scanning electron micrograph of a female dust mite.

Dust mite allergy, also known as house dust allergy, is a sensitization and allergic reaction to the droppings of house dust mites. The allergy is common^[1][2] and can trigger allergic reactions such as asthma, eczema or itching. It is the manifestation of a parasitosis^{[citation needed]}. The mite's gut contains potent digestive enzymes (notably peptidase 1) that persist in their feces and are major inducers of allergic reactions such as wheezing. The mite's exoskeleton can also contribute to allergic reactions. Unlike scabies mites or skin follicle mites, house dust mites do not burrow under the skin and are not parasitic.^[3]

The symptoms can be avoided or alleviated by a number of measures. In general, cutting down mite numbers may reduce these reactions while others say efforts to remove these mites from the environment have not been found to be effective.^[4] Immunotherapy may be useful in those affected.^[4] Subcutaneous injections have better evidence than under the tongue dosing.^[5] Topical steroids as nasal spray or inhalation may be used.^[6]

House dust mites (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus) aggregate.

Severe dust mite infestation in the home has been linked to atopic dermatitis, and epidermal barrier damage has been documented.^[7]

Symptoms[]

Dust mite allergy symptoms include:

• Cough
• Facial pressure and pain
• Itchy, red or watery eyes
• Itchy nose, roof of the mouth or throat
• Nasal congestion
• Postnasal drip
• Runny nose, sneezing
• Swollen, blue-colored skin under your eyes

If the dust mite allergy contributes to asthma:

• Audible whistling or wheezing sound when exhaling
• Bouts of coughing or wheezing that are worsened by a respiratory virus such as a cold or the flu
• Chest tightness or pain
• Difficulty breathing
• Trouble sleeping caused by shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing^[8][4][9]

Cross-reactivity to shellfish allergy[]

Tropomyosin, the major allergen in dust mites, is also responsible for shellfish allergy.^[10][11] Exposure to inhaled tropomyosins from dust mites is thought to be the primary sensitizer for shellfish allergy, an example of inhalant-to-food cross-reactivity.^[12] Epidemiological surveys have confirmed correlation between shellfish and dust mite sensitizations.^[13] An additional confirmation was seen in Orthodox Jews with no history of shellfish consumption, in that skin tests confirming dust mite allergy were also positive for shellfish tropomyosin.^[10][13] In addition to tropomyosin, the proteins arginine kinase and hemocyanin seem to have a role in cross-reactivity to dust mites.^[14]

Prevention[]

House dust mites are present indoors wherever humans live. Positive tests for dust mite allergies are extremely common among people with asthma. Dust mites are microscopic arachnids whose primary food is dead human skin cells, but they do not live on living people. They and their feces and other allergens that they produce are major constituents of house dust, but because they are so heavy they are not suspended for long in the air. They are generally found on the floor and other surfaces, until disturbed (by walking, for example). It could take somewhere between twenty minutes and two hours for dust mites to settle back down out of the air.

Dust mites are a nesting species that prefer a dark, warm, and humid climate. They flourish in mattresses, bedding, upholstered furniture, and carpets.^[15] Their feces include enzymes that are released upon contact with a moist surface, which can happen when a person inhales, and these enzymes can kill cells within the human body.^[16] House dust mites did not become a problem until humans began to use textiles, such as western style blankets and clothing.^[17]

Furniture[]

Furniture with wooden or leather surfaces reduces the dust mite population.^[18]

Bed linen[]

Dust mite-proof encasements to mattress, pillow, and duvet prevent chronic contact with allergens.^[6][18]

Hot tumble drying a bed linen for 1 hour will kill 99% of mites therein.^[19]

Weekly changing the bed linen reduces the risk of exposure to dust mites.^[6]

Cotton covers not covered with complete mattress covers are very likely to become colonized by bacteria and molds; they must be cleaned periodically (at least every second to third month). Here, the dust mites are beneficial as they return cotton to its original state after it has degraded by contact with bare skin.^[20]

Dust mite eggs are freeze tolerant (−70 °C for 30 minutes); hatching can normally be prevented by exposure of fabrics to:^[21]

• Direct sunlight for 3 hours or
• Dry or wet heat of at least 60 °C (140 °F) for a minimum of 30 minutes.

Dust mites drown in water.^[19]

Good properties of anti-mite fabrics have been identified as being:^[22]

• Thread count greater than 246.
• Pore size of between 2 and 10 micrometres. This will prevent dust mite faecal pellets that can be small as 10 µm.^[23]
• Allergen impenetrability >99%.
• Dust leakage of less than 4%.
• Breathability between 2 and 6 cm³ s⁻¹ cm⁻².

Indoor climate[]

Allergy patients are advised to keep the relative humidity below 50%, if possible. Very few mites can survive if the humidity is less than 45% (at 22 °C (72 °F)). However, they can survive if the humidity is high just for an hour and a half per day, for example due to moisture released to the air when cooking food.^[19]

References[]

Further reading[]

• List of mites associated with cutaneous reactions
• List of allergens
• House dust mite
• Allergy
• Asthma and Allergy Friendly