What do we know about dust mite allergies? Symptoms and treatments

Allergies to dust mites are not uncommon these days. The abundance of carpets, books and soft toys indoors makes it a constant companion of modern man. This type of allergy develops under the influence of fecal masses and parts of the chitinous cover of dead arthropods present in the air. Close contact with ticks and their vital products makes the mucous membrane and skin more vulnerable and causes a corresponding reaction of the autoimmune system. How to get rid of a domestic pest and is it possible to do this?

Brief description of the dust mite

Dust mite considered a parasite, although, from a scientific point of view, this is not so. Rather, he is our symbiont, living nearby and eating the remnants of dead organics: hair, dandruff, sweat secretions, exfoliated epithelium, pet hair. Moreover, these arachnids can be safely attributed to the group of non-domesticated animals, whose existence is closely connected with humans.
A dust mite cannot be seen without a microscope. Its size ranges from 0.2 to 0.5 mm. The usual lifespan of individuals of both sexes is 70–80 days. During this time, the female manages to lay more than 50 eggs. The best habitat is a room with high humidity and temperature in the range of 20–23 ° C.

Attention. A huge amount of dust mites is found in soft toys, blanket and pillow filler, carpet pile, fabric upholstery and thicker mattresses. Especially a lot of them in beds.

Contrary to popular belief, the majority of ticks are not in the far corners of the apartment, but very close to the person in bedding. A suitable temperature, an optimal level of humidity and, most importantly, a lot of food - all this makes the fabric fibers a very convenient place.

Children and adults with weakened health and low immunity suffer especially from the presence of small arachnids. In the cold season, the number of cases of allergies to dust mites increases dramatically. This is due to the rare ventilation of the room and lower quality of cleaning. At this time of the year it is difficult to knock out and dry bedding and carpets. In addition, many people lay back floor coverings, rugs and walkways that were removed for the summer.

What is the danger of a house dust mite?

A dust (synanthropic) tick can eat any organics that can decompose, but especially to its taste dandruff and dead skin flakes. The pest does not like the living epidermis, so small arthropods do not bite and are not at all dangerous from this point of view. Yes, and a gnawing oral apparatus is not suitable for damage to the skin.

A dust mite causes several types of allergies: food, respiratory, contact. In addition to damage to the nasopharynx and skin, arthropods provoke many diseases:

• bronchial asthma;
• allergic rhinitis;
• conjunctivitis;
• all kinds of dermatitis.

It is skin lesions that are often confused with tick bites. Under the influence of digestive enzymes, the minimal effect on the epidermis causes severe itching, redness and swelling with a small rash.

Thus, neither adults nor their larvae harm a person directly. The main danger lies in the excrement of the dust mite, which it releases at least 20 times a day. Feces contain specific digestive enzymes that corrode the living epidermis and provoke a severe allergy.

Interesting. If the concentration of ticks does not exceed 100 individuals per gram, then the influence of enzymes is almost imperceptible. With an increase in the number of individuals to 500, an organism reaction appears.

Signs of a dust mite allergy

The presence of a tick in an apartment is most often manifested by allergic rhinitis. Symptoms of malaise include:

• repeated sneezing;
• copious fluid discharge from the nasal cavity;
• redness of the eyes and lacrimation;
• difficulty breathing.

In infants, the symptoms of dust mite allergy are more pronounced. Swelling of the mucous membrane develops rapidly, nasal congestion and severe runny nose appear. The child cannot eat normally and refuses to breast, constantly cries and is naughty. Loss of appetite and insomnia join these symptoms.

In addition to allergic rhinitis, a dust mite can trigger bronchial asthma, dermatitis or conjunctivitis. In this case, the following signs of a pathological condition will be added to the manifestations of the common cold:

• photophobia, itching and pain in the eyes;
• a skin rash located on the face and neck, in the groin, axillary hollows or elbow and knee joints;
• inspiratory dyspnea, wheezing when breathing, cough with sputum discharge.

Attention. In rare cases, a tick allergy is accompanied by Quincke's edema. With an enlargement of the face and the appearance of signs of suffocation, you must call an ambulance.

If the cause of the ailment really became a dust mite, then an allergic reaction will be accompanied by some features:

• the disappearance of all symptoms of malaise outside the home;
• exacerbation of signs of rhinitis or asthma during sleep and cleaning;
• seasonality of relapses associated with the period of active reproduction of unpleasant neighbors and the cold season;
• concomitant reaction to fluff and feather.

Most often, babies suffer from an allergy to a dust mite. This is due to the weakness of the child’s immune system and more frequent contact with arthropods. After all, children constantly crawl on the floor and have fun with soft toys.

Treatment of an allergic reaction to a dust mite

First of all, it is recommended to minimize contact with dust and mites, that is, eliminate all possible places of their residence. At the same time, you should start taking medications prescribed by the doctor.

Tip. If you suspect an autoimmune reaction of the body, it is recommended that you first visit an allergist, who, if necessary, will involve an immunologist and other specialized specialists in the examination.

The treatment of dust mite allergies will include the use of the following groups of drugs:

1. Antihistamines.
2. Nasal vasoconstrictor sprays and drops.
3. In especially severe cases, corticosteroids are prescribed, which are selected individually.

When taking medication, you must remember that they eliminate only the symptoms of malaise, and not the main cause. In addition, drugs do not last long, only a few hours, so the fight against dust mites comes first.

Antihistamines

This group of drugs underlies the treatment of allergies. They are produced in the form of tablets, drops, including ophthalmic, nasal sprays and solutions. In emergency cases, intramuscular administration is possible.

There are currently four generations of allergy medications.With each modification, the effectiveness and time of influence increase, the strength of side effects and addiction decrease. For the treatment of immune reactions to dust mites, all types of drugs are used:

1st generation drugs (sedatives)

They produce a good antihistamine effect, but have many contraindications. The duration of their action is 4-6 hours. This group includes:

• Diphenhydramine;
• Promethazine;
• Tavegil;
• Suprastin;
• Clemastine;
• Peritol;
• Meclizine;
• Pipolfen;
• Fenkarol.

Such drugs are usually used to treat allergic pathologies, which are characterized by difficulty breathing.

II generation drugs (non-sedative)

This group of medicines does not cause drowsiness and has fewer contraindications. Means are most in demand with dermatitis and itching of the skin.

The preparations of the second generation include:

• Claritin;
• Astemizole;
• Trexil;
• Zodak
• Levocetirizine;
• Histalong;
• Loratadine
• Fenistil;
• Semprex.

Such drugs are prohibited for use by people with cardiovascular diseases, as they have a cardiotoxic effect.

3rd generation medicines

They are characterized by a good antihistamine effect and a minimum of adverse reactions. It is Zirtek, Telfast and Erius most often take as the basis of antiallergic therapy in response to dust mites.

Means do not have a cardiotoxic effect and perfectly cope with dermatitis and asthma symptoms.

IV generation drugs

This group of drugs has a great advantage over its predecessors. Medicines do not affect the heart and do not cause drowsiness, but are contraindicated in pregnant women and children. This group includes: Levocetirizine, Desloratadine, Bamipin and Xizal.

Nasal products

In addition to antihistamines, vasoconstrictor drugs and all kinds of solutions are widely used to alleviate symptoms, to cleanse the nose of dust mite waste products. The choice of such nasal drugs is huge, so we will consider only a few of them:

1. Aquamaris - goes on sale in the form of a solution for washing the nose, drops and spray. It is completely safe and can be used to treat pregnant women and young children.
2. Spray Atomer Propolis - a combined preparation for the nose, containing salt water of the Aegean Sea and propolis solution. It is indicated for children from an early age and adults.
3. Drops Tizin Alergi. Good help with allergic rhinitis. Use with caution during the period of gestation.
4. Reactin Nasal Spray. It perfectly eliminates symptoms and significantly eases the patient's condition.
5. Vasoconstrictors - Nazivin, Sanorin, Afrin, Vibrocil (for the smallest).

Additionally, the patient may be prescribed eye drops and ointments that relieve itching and redness of the skin with contact dermatitis.

Desensitization

The modern way to deal with allergic reactions is ASIT (allergen-specific immunotherapy), based on subcutaneous administration of the minimum doses of tick-borne substrate. This kind of vaccination allows you to get used to the irritant and not so sharply react to it.

Important. Very often, desensitization allows you to permanently get rid of the manifestations of allergies to house dust mites.

ASIT has contraindications, therefore it can only be carried out after a thorough diagnostic examination.

Folk remedies

Alternative medicine is not able to cope with the manifestations of an allergy to a dust mite, but it is quite capable of increasing immunity. And this, in turn, will lead to a decrease in symptoms and a decrease in the frequency of relapses.

Perfectly strengthens the body tincture of ginseng, eleutherococcus, lemongrass. All immunostimulants are recommended for courses of 20-30 days. After a short break, treatment is resumed.

Instead of pharmaceutical preparations with sea water at home, you can prepare a saline solution and rinse the nasal cavity with it.

Dust Mite Allergy Prevention

It will not work to completely get rid of dust mites. They will always live next to us, eating dead organics. But to reduce their number and thereby reduce the negative impact on health under the strength of each person.

Prevention of allergies to dust mites includes the following measures:

1. Remove excess carpets, rugs and walkways, and shake the remaining ones regularly and dry them in the sun.
2. If possible, replace furniture with fabric upholstery with faux or genuine leather.
3. Freshen up bedding at least once a week.
4. Monitor the humidity of the air, not allowing it to increase.
5. Remove unwanted soft toys from home.
6. Replace feather pillows and blankets with synthetic-filled items. This, of course, will not eliminate the tick, but it will significantly reduce its number.
7. As often as possible, do a wet cleaning of the room and ventilate the apartment.

Large items such as a sofa, chairs, mattresses can be periodically treated with a steam generator. The temperature in such devices is maintained at 95–115 ° C, which is more than enough to destroy an unpleasant neighbor.

As you can see, there is no need to do anything supernatural in the fight against the dust mite. These measures are quite enough, but they should become regular and mundane. And allergy problems will be a thing of the past.

Attention. The article is for guidance only. A doctor's consultation is required.