Dust Mite Allergy: An Overview
Dust mite allergy is an allergy to a microscopic organism that lives in the dust found in all dwellings and workplaces. Up to 10 percent of people have a dust mite allergy.
Dust mites are relatives of the spider and live on mattresses, bedding, upholstered furniture, carpets, and curtains. Dust mites thrive in summer and die in winter. In a warm, humid house, however, they continue to thrive even in the coldest months. The particles seen floating in a shaft of sunlight include dead dust mites and their waste products. These waste products, which are proteins, actually provoke the allergic reaction.
Dust mites feed on the flakes of skin that people and pets shed daily.
No matter how clean a home is, dust mites cannot be totally eliminated. However, the number of mites can be reduced by following the suggestions below.
Symptoms of Dust Mite Allergy
Dust mites are perhaps the most common cause of perennial allergic symptoms. House dust mite allergy usually produces symptoms similar to
pollen allergy and can also produce
symptoms of asthma.
(Click Allergy Symptoms for more information about symptoms of dust mite allergy.)
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