Dust allergy, also known as dust mite allergy, is very troublesome - because dust is everywhere and it is very difficult to get rid of it, so a person allergic to dust has constant contact with it. So if you constantly sneeze, your nose is blocked, your skin itches - check if you are allergic to dust.

Dust allergy(dust mite allergy) is one of the most common inhalation allergies in our country. Ten years ago, every sixth Pole was allergic to dust mites, now even every third of us may be allergic to dust.

Dust allergy: causes

Dust allergy is caused by microscopic arachnids - house dust mites, and specifically proteins found in their faeces.Dust miteslive wherever humans live, as they mainly feed on our exfoliated epidermis. They are so small that it is impossible to see them with the naked eye: they measure 0.1-0.5 mm. And very common: on average, one female lays a hundred eggs, and one gram of dust can contain up to 10,000. mites.

They like a temperate climate, such as that in our country: they reproduce fastest when it is warm (ideal temperature for them is 25 ° C) and humid (they prefer 50% or higher humidity).

Dust mite allergens are inhaled allergens, so they enter the respiratory tract with air. That is why an allergy to dust can be experienced all year round, although it is most troublesome in autumn and winter, when radiators heat up - during this period, mites multiply intensively and their dried faeces float in the air, which increases the exposure to the allergen.

Dust allergy: symptoms

Dust allergy symptomsare sometimes confused with common cold symptoms. They are very similar to them. The most typical symptoms of this type of allergy are the symptoms of the eyes and nose, i.e. those organs with which the allergen comes into direct contact. The most common symptoms of dust mite allergy include:

  • rhinitis, and often complete blockage of the nose,
  • watery runny nose,
  • fits of sneezing,
  • watery eyes,
  • itchy nose,
  • conjunctival itching.

These symptoms intensify especially at night and in the morning, after getting out of bed - mites very often live in mattresses.

At young childrenin case of dust allergy, skin lesions may also appear, while in older children - cross-allergies. The latter can be caused by e.g. seafood (mites are related to lobsters) or live food for feeding fish containing small crustaceans. If exposure to dust mite allergens is high at all times, other less obvious symptoms of dust allergy may include, such as drowsiness, difficulty concentrating, headaches and fatigue.

Dust allergy: allergy tests

Symptoms of dust allergy are bothersome, and untreated allergy and constant contact with the allergen can lead to the development of asthma, as evidenced by a strong cough, shortness of breath and wheezing.

Therefore, if symptomsof dust mite allergypersist, check if you are allergic to dust by undergoing allergy diagnosis at an allergist (or at a pediatrician if your child is allergic to dust) ).

If a mite allergy is suspected, the doctor will first conduct a detailed interview, and will also carefully examine - using a special instrument - the mucous membranes of the nose: such inspection is aimed at determining whether there is chronic inflammation characteristic of inhalation allergy. Then he or she will order a skin test or an allergy blood test.

Dust allergy skin tests involve irritating the skin with an extract containing proteins produced by mites. During the test, a drop of the solution is applied to the slightly scratched skin on the forearm or back. If the reaction to the provocation is a blister and erythema (the so-called erythematous-bubble reaction), it means that we are dealing with a dust allergy.

If the skin test gives a negative result despite obvious allergy symptoms, blood tests are used, especially the RAST test, which aims to determine IgE (immunoglobulin E) in the serum. Allergy can be determined when the test detects elevated levels of specific IgE antibodies in the blood, directed against allergens produced by mites.

Such tests are grouped into panels, so they can be used to detect not only dust allergies, but also to carry out diagnostics for other inhaled or food allergies.

Dust allergy: medications

The treatment of dust allergies is done by an allergist. As with any allergy, the basis of treatment is to limit contact with the allergen, which is not so simple, however, as mites are very common. Therefore, each patient is also prescribed certain medications, the type of which depends on the symptoms and their severity. In order to relieve the symptoms of an allergy todust are prescribed:

  • antihistamines that reduce the secretion of histamine - a substance produced by the body in response to contact with an allergen and responsible for bothersome symptoms of allergy. In this way, the symptoms of allergy are most often alleviated. These drugs are administered intranasally and orally.
  • glucocorticosteroids, mainly those applied topically and in the form of nasal sprays, in severe cases also orally.
  • symptomatic preparations. They constrict blood vessels, widened as a result of an allergic reaction, which reduces irritating itching of the nose and eyes, alleviates runny nose accompanying allergies, and facilitates breathing.

Dust allergy: desensitization

Dust mite allergy is treatable. The currently used method is allergen immunotherapy (desensitization) with subcutaneous injections. The preparations used during desensitization contain very low concentrations of mite allergens in order to "accustom" the immune system to contact with them and thus reduce the nuisance symptoms of allergies.

The allergen is given weekly in a hospital, outpatient clinic or outpatient clinic (where immediate assistance is available in the event of a severe allergic reaction and anaphylactic shock). After the allergy has resolved, you will be given a monthly booster dose (to maintain the effects of the treatment) for a while. In some cases, oral or sublingual immunotherapy is also used.

Dust allergy: how to get rid of dust mites

Since the essential element of the therapy is the elimination of the allergen, it is worth knowinghow to effectively reduce the number of mites(as it is impossible to remove them completely). What to do and what not to do

  • Give up carpets and carpets - dust mites live in their fibers especially willingly. On the floor you can put a small rug that is washable. If these décor items cannot be removed, they must be vacuumed daily with a vacuum cleaner equipped with a HEPA filter and multi-layer dust bags.
  • For the same reason, it is better to get rid of curtains and curtains: blinds that are easy to clean, e.g. wooden ones, or thin synthetic curtains as a last resort, should be better, as long as they are often washed.
  • Instead of upholstered furniture, it is better to choose those covered with ecological leather.
  • Cover the mattress and bedding with barrier covers (those that do not let dust mites or their droppings pass, but let the air pass. Bed linen (including duvets and pillows, not only covers) should be washed weekly or more often at a temperature above 60 degrees Celsius. C, and vacuum mattresses at leastonce a month. Pillows and duvets must be ventilated frequently, and turned inside out at night to prevent moisture from getting wet. All hard parts of the bed (on which dust can settle) must be washed with a damp cloth.
  • It is worth taking advantage of the fact that the mites are sensitive to temperature: very low (minus 20 degrees C and less) and high (more than 55 degrees C). Plush toys should be frozen for several hours in the freezer every few weeks, and then washed at 60 degrees C - the washing will rinse the frozen mites.
  • Items that can collect dust (blankets, books, decorations, etc.) must be stored in tightly closed containers or on shelves behind glass.
  • It is worth keeping the temperature at home below 21 degrees C and the humidity below 50% - if it is higher, a moisture absorber is necessary.
  • At least once a week, you need to thoroughly clean the entire apartment, removing dust also from less obvious surfaces: door tops and frames, or under the furniture.
  • It is good to seal all nooks and crannies where dust can accumulate and where it is difficult to remove it: installation holes, gaps, damage in the floor.
  • You should also consider buying an air purifier - but only one that is equipped with HEPA antiallergic filters that eliminate inhalation allergens from the air, including mite feces.

Category:

Allergies