As a house dust allergy or dust mite allergy refers to my an allergic reaction to the droppings of house mites, which reside primarily in beds and mattresses. In the course of the allergy, typical allergic symptoms occur, such as watery eyes, coughing, itching and reddening of the skin.
What is a house dust allergy?
Mites are not only found in house dust, but also in feather beds and mattresses. In other words, anywhere mites find food. Click to enlarge. In the case of a house dust allergy or dust mite allergy, the immune system of the affected person reacts particularly sensitively to the droppings and residues of the house dust mite. The arachnids, which are only about 0.1 to 0.5 mm in size, live in 150 species worldwide and can be found in almost every household. The animals feed on the dead skin scales of humans and prefer to live in carpets, upholstered furniture, comforters, pillows and mattresses. While the dust mite is usually completely harmless, it causes a person with a dust mite allergy to experience rhinitis, allergic sneezing and eye itching, and less commonly, sore throat, ear itching, nasal itching, coughing and allergic asthma. Furthermore, a dust mite allergy can start with a more or less harmless rhinitis and over the years take on asthmatic features. Such a transformation of symptoms in a person with a house dust mite allergy is also called a floor change in technical jargon.
Causes
House dust mite allergy or dust allergy is caused by an allergic overreaction of the immune system. House dust allergy is a type I allergy, the so-called immediate type. Responsible for this is the allergen P1 antigen found in the feces of the house dust mite. Since the causative agents of house dust mite allergy feed on skin scales, they prefer to live where these scales accumulate. These are, for example, pillows, blankets, mattresses, upholstered furniture and stuffed animals, but also places where the dust and thus the skin flakes remain for a particularly long time, for example in the curtains, carpets or on decorative objects, which are not for nothing also known as so-called dust catchers. In the context of investigations one wants to have determined that the contents of a feather pillow consist after approximately two years to approximately one tenth of dead mites as well as their excrement remains. Accordingly, people with dust mite allergy should take certain precautions to effectively reduce the effects of dust mite allergy.
Symptoms, complaints and signs
House dust mites belong to the arachnids. The most common dust mite species are Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farinae. Click to enlarge. The complaints and symptoms of a house dust allergy can vary greatly and also depend on the severity of this allergy. However, they generally reduce the quality of life of the affected person considerably and lead to various restrictions in the everyday life of the patient. First and foremost, those affected by a house dust allergy suffer from watery eyes and a strong cough. The eyes often water permanently, and the watering is often intensified by rubbing the eyes. Likewise, many patients suffer from a rhinitis and a permanently runny nose. Swelling can occur all over the body, which is intensified by inhaling house dust. The skin itself is often affected by redness and may also itch. Often, those affected suffer from reduced aesthetics as a result, and thus reduced self-esteem or even inferiority complexes. The house dust allergy can therefore lead to psychological upsets or depression. In severe cases, this allergy can cause respiratory distress, in which the affected person can lose consciousness or even die. However, this case occurs very rarely, so life expectancy is usually not negatively affected by this allergy.
Complications
House dust allergy does not usually lead to major complications. Contact with the allergen sometimes causes coughing and sneezing fits, rhinitis, and sore throat or headache, but these quickly subside. However, if contact with the allergen persists over a longer period of time, an increased propensity to asthma may develop.In the further course, a house dust allergy can then undergo a so-called floor change and lead to chronic asthma and the development of further allergies. Babies, small children and patients with a strong allergy can also suffer from anaphylactic shock. In the long term, a house dust allergy can also cause some secondary diseases. Typical are sinusitis and laryngitis as well as hay fever. The treatment of a house dust allergy via hyposensitization is also associated with risks and complications. During the treatment, symptoms such as fatigue, tiredness or headaches occur, which usually persist for some time and can intensify the original allergy in the short term. In addition, allergic reactions such as wheals, shortness of breath or even cardiac arrhythmia may occur as a result of the vaccination. Rarely, allergic shock can also occur after hyposensitization.
When should you see a doctor?
Sudden swelling of the mucous membranes, a nasal speaking pattern, or a stuffy nose should be examined and treated by a medical professional. The reduction of symptoms is particularly concise as soon as the local conditions change. In case of watery eyes or reddened eyes or itching, it is advisable to consult a physician. If there is a change in breathing over several days, or if it occurs repeatedly in apartments or other indoor spaces, a doctor should be consulted. If an overnight stay is planned, conditions should be checked before going to sleep to ensure that respiratory failure does not occur during nighttime sleep. If respiratory distress sets in, special care should be taken. Depending on the intensity, an emergency physician must be called. Until the rescue service arrives, first aid measures must be taken and ventilation of the affected person must be ensured. If a skin rash develops, there is a persistent cough or cold and sneezing attacks, a visit to the doctor is necessary. Under certain conditions, some patients may experience a sharp increase in symptoms within minutes. They should immediately go outdoors. If anaphylactic shock occurs, an ambulance service must be called. The instructions of the staff must be followed until the arrival of the doctors, otherwise the death of the affected person is imminent.
Treatment and therapy
The treatment of a house dust allergy turns out to be relatively difficult. Because a containment, the symptoms triggered by the house dust mite allergy, requires first and foremost a reduction of the allergenic substances. This is very difficult to achieve in practice. Nevertheless, there are attempts to reduce the house dust mite allergy by a specific immunotherapy, which, however, often only brings the desired success if it is carried out at an early stage. In such hyposensitization, the immune system‘s overreaction to an allergen is reduced. This is done by regularly ingesting high doses of the allergen causing the house dust allergy, so that the immune system is retrained to come to terms with the substance that triggers the house dust mite allergy instead of overreacting. As a result, there is less exposure to the dust mite allergy, although sensitization to the allergen in question is still present.
Outlook and prognosis
Patients with house dust allergy have a chronic condition that persists throughout life. The symptoms of hypersensitivity are readily treatable with current medical options, resulting in good daily management of the allergy. The methods of desensitization or hyposensitization show good results and alleviate the patient’s symptoms to a considerable extent. Through an additional change of the everyday conditions in the living and sleeping quarters of the affected person, the occurring complaints can be reduced to a minimum. This optimizes the quality of life despite the disease. The life span is normally not shortened in the case of allergy. As soon as sufficient precautions are taken and anaphylactic shock does not occur, the patient has a good chance of living comfortably with the house dust allergy. If the restructuring measures as well as the medical treatment are not used, the symptoms may increase. In addition, the patient is at risk of a life-threatening condition.As an alternative to seeking medical treatment, the patient can use various therapies on a natural healing basis to alleviate the symptoms. They also reduce the symptoms and lead to an improvement in health. Supportively, the everyday environmental conditions should also be optimized here, so that the general burden of mite excrement is reduced.
Prevention
The prick test is an allergy test to check, for example, allergic reaction to pollen or house dust. Here, possible allergic substances are dripped onto the skin, which is then lightly pricked with a lancet. After 20 minutes, the redness of the skin and the size of the wheal are assessed. A house dust allergy can be alleviated by various preventive measures. For example, when vacuuming, care should be taken not to stir up too much dust. For this purpose, devices with a HEPA filter and special central vacuum systems are particularly suitable for people with a dust mite allergy. Furthermore, the air humidity should be kept as low as possible by regular ventilation, since the dust mite allergy-triggering mites feel most comfortable in a warm and humid climate. In addition, curtains and other dust traps should be removed. This also applies to stuffed animals in the beds of allergy-prone children. Carpeting should be replaced with wood, cork or plastic flooring, and feather bedding should be exchanged for special allergy bedding. Dusting should be avoided and instead it is better to damp mop, possibly adding a fungicidal agent to the water, as the mites that trigger house dust allergy depend on the presence of certain fungi.
Aftercare
The extent to which aftercare is necessary depends largely on the severity of the house dust allergy. In most cases, complaints occur throughout life. It helps above all to reduce the number of mites. Those affected bear a great deal of personal responsibility for this. Suitable measures relate above all to the bedroom. Bed linen should be changed regularly. Dust traps such as curtains and carpets should be removed. Damp mopping at short intervals is recommended. If pets are present, they must not enter the sleeping area under any circumstances. In order to stop the recurrence of house dust allergy, it is not uncommon for hypersensitization to be carried out. Patients receive doses of the allergen over several years. This is intended to induce habituation. For many sufferers, this leads to relief. In addition, there are a number of medications that are only effective for a short time. To avoid discomfort, sufferers should take these acutely. They should be carried along, especially when traveling. Coughs and colds can be alleviated by sprays and solutions. Prescription ointments and freely available creams are suitable for reducing reactions on the skin. Individuals with a severe course should see a specialist regularly, who will document the progress of the disease.
What you can do yourself
People with house dust allergy can resort to various measures to relieve the symptoms. For red and itchy eyes, a cold, damp washcloth placed on the affected eye for about five minutes will help. If you have a cough, a short walk in the fresh air is recommended. Afterwards, the sleeping quarters should be aired and vacuumed. Since house dust mites reproduce mainly in damp areas, care should be taken to ensure a relatively dry, not too warm room climate. Dust traps in the apartment should be avoided. This includes books as well as large curtains and deep pile carpets. Ideally, such objects should be sprayed with an agent from a specialist retailer and cleaned regularly. The mattress is best covered with a suitable cover. Bed linen should be regularly washed at high temperatures (60 to 95°C) and also covered with mite-proof covers. Dietary measures also help. Allergy sufferers should eat a diet as rich in vitamins and minerals as possible and also drink plenty of fluids regularly. If these measures show no effect, the house dust allergy should be taken to the doctor. In most cases, the condition can be counteracted by hyposensitization.
