Diagnosis
In order to be able to diagnose a house dust mite allergy reliably, one can have an allergy test carried out by a doctor if the patient shows symptoms that indicate a house dust mite allergy.There are two different ways to detect a mite allergy: One is via the skin by means of a so-called prick test or by a blood test. In the prick test, the substances to be tested are drizzled onto the patient’s forearm and then a needle is used to slightly injure the skin at these points so that the substances can penetrate there. The result can be read after about 20 minutes.
If one is allergic to one of these substances, the respective area will show redness and/or wheals. In most cases it also itches. In the blood, certain antibodies can be recognized which are directed against the faeces of the house dust mites.
If these appear in an increased concentration in the blood, this indicates an allergy. Both tests only indicate an allergy and indicate a hypersensitivity to house dust mites. One speaks of a diagnosed allergy only when symptoms are triggered in the patient by contact with the allergen. It can also happen that the patient is hypersensitive, but does not feel any discomfort when he or she comes into contact with house dust.
Is there an allergy test?
People who are allergic to house dust and regularly suffer from a blocked nose are suspected to suffer from a mite allergy. The doctor or allergologist can determine whether an allergy to house dust mites is present by means of various tests. These tests include the skin test, a blood test for antibodies and the provocation test.
Before the allergy test is carried out, the patient is first asked in detail about his medical history: what are the patient’s complaints, when and where do they occur, are there any allergies in the family, does the patient keep pets? The doctor then examines the mucous membranes of the nose and mouth, as well as the lungs for signs of allergy. There are a number of tests that make it possible to identify a house dust allergy.
The most commonly used test is the prick test (skin test). This involves pricking the skin on the forearm with a fine needle and applying various allergens directly to the skin. After about 20 minutes, the test result is read directly from the skin: if there is redness or itching, there is an allergy to the specific allergen (in this case house dust mite).
A blood test can also provide information about the presence of an allergy, since the body’s immune system then forms certain antibodies against the mites, which can be detected. In the provocation test, the suspected allergen (i.e. the feces of the house dust mites) is inhaled directly by the patient and the doctor observes the reaction. Which test is used is decided by the treating physician.
House dust consists of various components, including small arachnids, the mites. Mites are so small that they can only be seen under a microscope. Some people have an allergic reaction to the excrement of mites, which is bound to small dust particles. Although house dust has many other components, such as hair, fibres or dirt particles, most people are allergic to house dust mites. From a medical point of view, a house dust and mite allergy is the same, the correct term is “house dust mite allergy”.
