Signs and symptoms

In general, diseases caused by mites are called acarioses. Since there are different mites, there are also different diseases, which are characterized by their own symptom complexes. The classic bed mites are usually house dust mites.

The symptoms they cause in humans are due to the allergenic effect of various components or excretions of the mites. However, not everyone reacts with symptoms to the allergenic mite. About 10% of the population and even 90% of asthmatics show symptoms.

The symptoms caused by dust mite allergy are usually summarized under the term allergic rhinitis. Sneezing in the morning, a stuffy or runny nose after waking up are typical symptoms. Some people also have watery and itchy eyes.

Conjunctivitis is also rarely found. House dust mites can also trigger allergic asthma, which is accompanied by symptoms such as coughing fits and breathing difficulties. These symptoms are most pronounced at night and in the morning.

Unlike seasonal allergies, for example to early bloomers, the symptoms occur all year round. Long-term exposure to house dust mites can cause chronic complaints such as a stuffy nose or dry, irritable cough. Apart from the house dust mites, other mites can occasionally be found in bed, such as the itch mite.

These mites cause tormenting itching of the entire skin due to human skin contact or the shared use of textiles. The itching is particularly pronounced at night and leads to those affected scratching their skin. A kind of skin rash is also found.

These reddish skin changes, called papules, are caused by the mites drilling into the uppermost layers of the skin and virtually migrating there. They are a few millimeters long and look like small corridors. After some time, an eczema develops with blisters, redness and incrustations.

The skin changes are mainly found between the fingers and toes, on the genitals, wrists and skin folds. In some cases, bacteria can also attack the affected skin. This bacterial infestation manifests itself through the additional appearance of pus blisters.

Mites that occur in bed, i.e. house dust mites, do not cause a rash. They only cause symptoms in allergy sufferers, and rashes are not among them. Grass mites, on the other hand, can cause a small swelling with redness and itching when bitten.

The bite resembles an insect bite. But grass mites, as the name suggests, do not occur in bed, but in the grass. Bites of grass mites usually occur after a longer stay in nature.

If one believes that stings on the body can be traced back to animals in bed, then the cause is not mites but possibly bed bugs. Apart from house dust mites, grave mites can also occur in bed under certain circumstances. Grave mites can cause scabies in humans.

This is a disease that, unlike house dust mites, is accompanied by a rash. While the frequency of the disease has been decreasing for a long time, it is now occurring a little more frequently again. Characteristic for the scabies rash is the occurrence of the rash in the area of body folds or spaces, for example under the armpit, in the groin, in the genital area, on the navel, on the nipples or between the fingers and toes.

Because grave mites prefer warm and humid regions. Furthermore, they seek out skin areas where the skin is particularly thin. Typically, the rash on the back and on the head is missing.

Only with babies and small children it can also occur sometimes on the head or on the palms of hands and feet.The rash is caused by the mites digging passages into the skin where they can lay their eggs. These mite ducts appear reddish to brownish. The rash is particularly severe in immunocompromised people.

In scabies, a rash similar to the appearance of pimples can develop in addition to the typical mite ducts. The defence of our immune system produces fluid-filled or pus-filled blisters and pustules. The vesicles or pustules can be isolated or occur in groups.

House dust mites do not cause the appearance of pimples. If a house dust mite allergy is present, the eyes in particular itch and burn. Allergic persons often have reddened eyes due to itching.

In the case of scabies, on the other hand, a very itchy skin rash occurs. The itching usually lasts for several weeks. However, the itching is not caused by the grave mite itself, but by the immune system‘s response to the intruder.

This is because the mite is located in a skin layer in which no sensory receptors are present. At night the itching usually increases. This is due to the fact that our body perceives an increased itching in a warm environment. Therefore, cooling usually helps against this itching.