Dealing with Dust Mite Allergies: It's Nothing to Sneeze At!

Even in the most allergic people, dust mites are harmless. The problem is a protein found in their droppings. They're living in upholstery, mattresses, pillows and carpets. They feed on shed human skin! Each one produces approximately 20 fecal pellets each day, and females lay 25 to 50 eggs every three weeks. The average mattress contains around two million dust mites.

Here are a few things to help control the dust mite population in your home

1.
Wash all bedding in hot water (at least 130 degrees) at least once a week. This will temporarily eliminate all dust mites in your sheets and blankets.
2.
Mattresses and pillows need to be enclosed in covers that can be bought at any mass market store such as Wal-Mart or Target.
3.
It is best not to have any carpet in your home, and to use area rugs that can be washed. If that is not possible, the carpet needs to be vacuumed at least twice a week. The household member with dust mite allergies should not be in any room when the vacuuming is going on. It is best to have a high filtration vacuum with a HEPA filter to reduce the amount of allergens recycled back into the air. Vacuum bags will need to be thrown away often to keep the dust mites from reinfesting your home.
4.
Dusting with a wet cloth once a week is recommended because dust mites like to hide in dust.
5.
Getting rid of stuffed animals in a child's room will also help. If you cannot get rid of all of them, you can wash them in hot water(above 130 degrees) and dry them on the hottest setting in your dryer. If they cannot be washed, you can double bag them in trash bags and put them in a freezer for at least eight hours.
6.
Controlling the humidity level in your home will also control the dust mite population. The mites need warm, dark, damp conditions, and plenty of food (dead skin cells) to breed. It is best to keep the humidity level in your home under %70. This can be done by running your air conditioner or by using a dehumidifier. If a dehumidifier is used, it will need to be cleaned at least once a week to control the mold that may grow in it.
7.
Using a special allergy filter in your air condition that can purchased at your local home improvement store Like Home Depot or Lowes , can be expensive but will lower the amount of allergens in the air in your home.
8.
Mite killing spray can be purchased over the internet and can be sprayed on things that cannot be washed in hot water, such as sofas, carpet, and mattresses.

To find out if someone has an allergy to dust mites, you will need to consult an allergy specialist. The test will also check for other allergies such as allergies to mold, pollen, certain grass, trees, animals and foods.

Skin tests are the most common. Specific methods vary. The scratch test (one of the most common methods) involves placement of a small amount of suspected allergy causing substances (allergens) on the skin (usually the forearm, upper arm, or the back), and then scratching or pricking the skin so that the allergen is introduced under the skin surface. The skin is observed closely for signs of a reaction, usually swelling and redness of the site. Results are usually obtained within about 20 minutes, and several suspected allergens can be tested at the same time.

After the allergies are determined, your doctor will sit down and discuss a plan of action with you that can best control the symptoms. This can include oral medications, nasal sprays or allergy shots.

Unlike allergy medicines, which act only to "cover up" allergic symptoms or prevent them temporarily, allergy shots fix the fix the problem. This occurs because the body treats the injection much like a vaccine, resulting in the production of infection-fighting antibodies against the pollen, dust, mold or pet dander. The body then stops producing as much allergic antibodies against the triggers, and therefore won't have as much, or any, allergic response when exposed to the allergens. These changes can last for many years even after stopping allergy shots. Recent studies show that allergy shots can also prevent people from developing new allergies, and reduce the risk of developing asthma in children with nasal allergies.

The course of allergy shots consists of starting at a small dose that will not cause an allergic reaction, with slowly advancing the dosage until the person becomes tolerant to large amounts of the extract. These injections are initially given once to twice a week until a maintenance, or constant dose, is achieved. This usually takes approximately 3 to 6 months. Once the maintenance dosage is reached, the allergic symptoms are largely resolved in most patients. After the allergies are under control, the injections are given every two to four weeks.

The shots are continued for 3 to 5 years total. The patient will continue to get relief from the allergies for 5 to 10 years after they are stopped. If the shots are stopped before a total of 3 years receiving them ,the allergic symptoms seem to return more quickly.

The best thing to do if you suspect someone in your household has an allergy to dust mites, is to follow the above outlined steps, and consult a doctor as soon as possible for a treatment plan.