What should you pay attention to if you are allergic to house dust mites

Dust mite allergy is a very common phenomenon. Dust mites are often found indoors. Household dust mites and house dust mites are the two main types of mites. Normally, mites are invisible to the naked eye. Household dust mite allergy refers to an antibody produced by the body after contact with household dust mite allergens, and this antibody can penetrate into the mucous membrane tissue, thereby causing many diseases in the body and seriously affecting human health.

Three major diseases related to house dust mite allergy

Allergic asthma

The occurrence, development and persistence of symptoms of most allergic asthma are closely related to dust mite allergy. There are about 160 million bronchial asthma patients in the world, and the prevalence in various countries ranges from 1% to 13%. The prevalence in my country is 1% to 4%. It is generally believed that the incidence rate in children is higher than that in adults. Among infant and young asthma, allergic asthma accounts for 80%, while among adult asthma, allergic asthma accounts for 10% to 50%. 80% of asthma patients have positive dust mite prick test results, while the positive rate in the normal population is 5%-30%. Epidemiological surveys around the world have shown that dust mites are the main allergens. The occurrence, development, acute onset and persistence of symptoms of most allergic asthma are closely related to dust mite allergy. Dust mite allergy is a risk factor for asthma.

Allergic rhinitis

Dust mites are also the main allergen of allergic rhinitis. After the nasal cavity is stimulated by dust mites, acute reactions and delayed reactions will occur. They can induce nasal mucosal inflammation for a long time and further develop into nasal polyps. Allergic rhinitis is a global health problem. It is common all over the world, with a global prevalence of 10%-25%, and the number of patients is still increasing. It can affect patients' daily life, learning and work efficiency, and cause a serious economic burden.

Allergic dermatitis

The incidence of atopic dermatitis (also known as atopic dermatitis) caused by dust mites is 10% in children. Therefore, dust mites are considered to be one of the most important allergens of atopic dermatitis, and the patient's degree of allergy to dust mites is closely related to the severity of atopic dermatitis. There are two ways that dust mites cause atopic dermatitis: directly through the skin and through inhalation of dust mite allergies. Many patients with atopic dermatitis often have other allergic symptoms: such as asthma or allergic rhinitis.

House dust mite allergy prevention

1. Reduce indoor relative humidity: Controlling the relative humidity below 50% is the most commonly used method to control the level of mites and their allergens, because the ambient relative humidity is the most critical factor affecting the prevalence of mites. Recent studies have shown that the use of high-performance dehumidifiers and air conditioners indoors to reduce relative humidity and the total amount of mites is both practical and effective.

2. Use packaging covers: Packing mattresses and pillows with special anti-mite materials is an effective way to reduce exposure to dust mites and their allergens. This method is recommended for allergy sufferers, where the packaging material consists of plastic, breathable material, very fine textile fibers or non-woven synthetic material. The ideal material would be a comfortable, breathable fabric that is permeable to vapor and blocks the passage of mites and mite allergens. The width of young mites is generally greater than 50 microns, so a fabric of 20 microns or less will prevent all mites from passing through.

3. Washing, drying and dry cleaning of bedding: Washing sheets, pillowcases, blankets and mattress covers with hot water equal to or higher than 55°C once a week can kill mites and remove most mite allergens. Washing with warm or cold water removes most allergens. Using ordinary laundry detergent at 25°C for at least 5 minutes can remove most mite allergens. Tumble dryers can kill all mites if the temperature is greater than 55°C for 10 minutes. Dry cleaning is an effective way to kill mites, but it cannot remove all allergens. Washing your hair daily is also a good way to control dust mite allergens.

4. Replacement of carpets, curtains and home decorations: Carpets, curtains and home decoration fabrics accumulate debris and remain damp, providing an ideal habitat for mites to reproduce. In humid areas, carpeting should be replaced with a hard surface. Window (cloth) curtains or blackout curtains should be replaced with blinds, home decorative fabrics should be replaced with vinyl or leather pads, and furniture can be replaced with wooden furniture.

5. Vacuuming carpets: If the family is unwilling or financially unable to replace the carpets, they should be vacuumed once a week and the vacuum cleaner bags should be replaced frequently. The vacuum cleaner bag should be double-layered or have a high-performance air filter or the end of the central vacuum cleaner should be vented to the outdoors to avoid the formation of aerosols of allergens during vacuuming. Steam cleaning your carpets may have the opposite effect by leaving enough moisture in these areas to encourage mite growth.

6. Frozen soft toys and small items: After freezing soft toys and small items (such as pillows and special clothing) at -17°C to -20°C for at least 24 hours, these items can be washed to remove dead mites and allergens. In cold climates, leaving your mattress and pillows outside for 24 hours is also a good idea. Multi-effect allergen repellent can kill and neutralize dust mite allergens.

7. Chemicals: The key issues in indoor use of chemicals are the safety of the agents and the form of the active ingredients in the agents in terms of their effectiveness as products. The product must be able to deliver its active ingredients directly to where the mites live.